gdb:
[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, 1998,
3 @c 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
4 @c 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
25 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
26 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
27 @syncodeindex vr cp
28 @syncodeindex fn cp
29
30 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
31 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
32 @set EDITION Ninth
33
34 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
35 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
36
37 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
38
39 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
40 @c manuals to an info tree.
41 @dircategory Software development
42 @direntry
43 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
44 @end direntry
45
46 @copying
47 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
48 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
49 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
50
51 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
52 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
53 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
54 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
55 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
56 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
57
58 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
59 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
60 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
61 @end copying
62
63 @ifnottex
64 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
65
66 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
67 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
68 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
69 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
70 @end ifset
71 Version @value{GDBVN}.
72
73 @insertcopying
74 @end ifnottex
75
76 @titlepage
77 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
78 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
79 @sp 1
80 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
81 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
82 @sp 1
83 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
84 @end ifset
85 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
86 @page
87 @tex
88 {\parskip=0pt
89 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
90 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
91 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
92 }
93 @end tex
94
95 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
96 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
97 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
98 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
99 ISBN 1-882114-77-9 @*
100
101 @insertcopying
102 @page
103 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
104 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
105 software in general. We will miss him.
106 @end titlepage
107 @page
108
109 @ifnottex
110 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
111
112 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
113
114 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
115
116 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
117 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
118 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
119 @end ifset
120 Version @value{GDBVN}.
121
122 Copyright (C) 1988-2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
123
124 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
125 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
126 software in general. We will miss him.
127
128 @menu
129 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
130 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
131
132 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
133 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
134 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
135 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
136 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
137 * Stack:: Examining the stack
138 * Source:: Examining source files
139 * Data:: Examining data
140 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
141 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
142 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
143
144 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
145
146 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
147 * Altering:: Altering execution
148 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
149 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
150 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
151 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
152 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
153 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
154 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
155 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
156 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
157 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
158 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
159
160 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
161
162 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
163 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
164 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
165 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
166 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
167 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
168 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
169 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
170 @value{GDBN}
171 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
172 the operating system
173 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
174 how you can copy and share GDB
175 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
176 * Index:: Index
177 @end menu
178
179 @end ifnottex
180
181 @contents
182
183 @node Summary
184 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
185
186 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
187 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
188 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
189
190 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
191 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
192
193 @itemize @bullet
194 @item
195 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
196
197 @item
198 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
199
200 @item
201 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
202
203 @item
204 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
205 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
206 @end itemize
207
208 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
209 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
210 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
211
212 @cindex Modula-2
213 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
214 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
215
216 @cindex Pascal
217 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
218 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
219 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
220 syntax.
221
222 @cindex Fortran
223 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
224 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
225 underscore.
226
227 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
228 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
229
230 @menu
231 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
232 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
233 @end menu
234
235 @node Free Software
236 @unnumberedsec Free Software
237
238 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
239 General Public License
240 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
241 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
242 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
243 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
244 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
245 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
246
247 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
248 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
249 from anyone else.
250
251 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
252
253 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
254 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
255 include with the free software. Many of our most important
256 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
257 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
258 when an important free software package does not come with a free
259 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
260 gaps today.
261
262 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
263 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
264 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
265 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
266 them from the free software world.
267
268 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
269 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
270 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
271 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
272 contract to make it non-free.
273
274 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
275 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
276 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
277 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
278 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
279 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
280 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
281
282 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
283 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
284 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
285 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
286
287 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
288 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
289 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
290 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
291 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
292 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
293 community.
294
295 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
296 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
297 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
298 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
299 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
300 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
301 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
302 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
303 of the manual.
304
305 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
306 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
307 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
308 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
309 manual to replace it.
310
311 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
312 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
313 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
314 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
315 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
316 the free software community.
317
318 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
319 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
320 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
321 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
322 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
323 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
324 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
325 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
326 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
327
328 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
329 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
330 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
331 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
332 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
333 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
334 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
335 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
336
337 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
338 published by other publishers, at
339 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
340
341 @node Contributors
342 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
343
344 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
345 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
346 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
347 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
348 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
349 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
350 blow-by-blow account.
351
352 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
353
354 @quotation
355 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
356 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
357 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
358 @end quotation
359
360 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
361 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
362 releases:
363 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
364 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
365 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
366 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
367 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
368 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
369 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
370 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
371 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
372
373 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
374 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
375
376 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
377 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
378 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
379 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
380 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
381
382 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
383 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
384 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
385
386 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
387 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
388
389 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
390
391 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
392 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
393 support.
394 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
395 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
396 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
397 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
398 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
399 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
400 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
401 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
402 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
403 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
404 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
405 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
406 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
407 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
408 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
409 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
410
411 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
412
413 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
414 libraries.
415
416 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
417 about several machine instruction sets.
418
419 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
420 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
421 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
422 and RDI targets, respectively.
423
424 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
425 command-line editing and command history.
426
427 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
428 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
429
430 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
431 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
432 symbols.
433
434 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
435 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
436
437 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
438
439 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
440 processors.
441
442 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
443
444 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
445
446 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
447
448 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
449 watchpoints.
450
451 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
452
453 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
454
455 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
456 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
457
458 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
459 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
460 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
461 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
462 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
463 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
464 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
465
466 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
467 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
468
469 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
470 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
471 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
472 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
473 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
474 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
475 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
476 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
477 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
478 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
479 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
480 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
481 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
482 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
483 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
484
485 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
486 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
487
488 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
489 Hat.
490
491 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
492 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
493 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
494 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
495 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
496 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
497
498 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
499 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
500 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
501 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
502 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
503 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
504 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
505 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
506 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
507 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
508 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
509 Weigand.
510
511 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
512 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
513 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
514 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
515
516 @node Sample Session
517 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
518
519 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
520 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
521 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
522
523 @iftex
524 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
525 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
526 @end iftex
527
528 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
529 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
530
531 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
532 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
533 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
534 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
535 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
536 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
537 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
538 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
539 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
540
541 @smallexample
542 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
543 $ @b{./m4}
544 @b{define(foo,0000)}
545
546 @b{foo}
547 0000
548 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
549
550 @b{bar}
551 0000
552 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
553
554 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
555 @b{baz}
556 @b{Ctrl-d}
557 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
558 @end smallexample
559
560 @noindent
561 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
562
563 @smallexample
564 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
565 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
566 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
567 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
568 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
569 the conditions.
570 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
571 for details.
572
573 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
574 (@value{GDBP})
575 @end smallexample
576
577 @noindent
578 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
579 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
580 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
581 that examples fit in this manual.
582
583 @smallexample
584 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
585 @end smallexample
586
587 @noindent
588 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
589 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
590 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
591 @code{break} command.
592
593 @smallexample
594 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
595 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
596 @end smallexample
597
598 @noindent
599 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
600 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
601 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
602
603 @smallexample
604 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
605 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
606 @b{define(foo,0000)}
607
608 @b{foo}
609 0000
610 @end smallexample
611
612 @noindent
613 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
614 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
615 context where it stops.
616
617 @smallexample
618 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
619
620 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
621 at builtin.c:879
622 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
623 @end smallexample
624
625 @noindent
626 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
627 the next line of the current function.
628
629 @smallexample
630 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
631 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
632 : nil,
633 @end smallexample
634
635 @noindent
636 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
637 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
638 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
639 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
640
641 @smallexample
642 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
643 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
644 at input.c:530
645 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
646 @end smallexample
647
648 @noindent
649 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
650 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
651 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
652 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
653 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
654 stack frame for each active subroutine.
655
656 @smallexample
657 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
658 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
659 at input.c:530
660 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
661 at builtin.c:882
662 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
663 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
664 at macro.c:71
665 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
666 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
667 @end smallexample
668
669 @noindent
670 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
671 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
672 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
673
674 @smallexample
675 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
676 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
677 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
678 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
679 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
680 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
681 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
682 : xstrdup(rq);
683 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
684 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
685 @end smallexample
686
687 @noindent
688 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
689 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
690 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
691 (@code{print}) to see their values.
692
693 @smallexample
694 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
695 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
696 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
697 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
698 @end smallexample
699
700 @noindent
701 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
702 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
703 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
704
705 @smallexample
706 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
707 533 xfree(rquote);
708 534
709 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
710 : xstrdup (lq);
711 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
712 : xstrdup (rq);
713 537
714 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
715 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
716 540 @}
717 541
718 542 void
719 @end smallexample
720
721 @noindent
722 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
723 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
724
725 @smallexample
726 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
727 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
728 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
729 540 @}
730 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
731 $3 = 9
732 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
733 $4 = 7
734 @end smallexample
735
736 @noindent
737 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
738 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
739 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
740 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
741 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
742 assignments.
743
744 @smallexample
745 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
746 $5 = 7
747 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
748 $6 = 9
749 @end smallexample
750
751 @noindent
752 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
753 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
754 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
755 example that caused trouble initially:
756
757 @smallexample
758 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
759 Continuing.
760
761 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
762
763 baz
764 0000
765 @end smallexample
766
767 @noindent
768 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
769 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
770 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
771
772 @smallexample
773 @b{Ctrl-d}
774 Program exited normally.
775 @end smallexample
776
777 @noindent
778 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
779 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
780 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
781
782 @smallexample
783 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
784 @end smallexample
785
786 @node Invocation
787 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
788
789 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
790 The essentials are:
791 @itemize @bullet
792 @item
793 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
794 @item
795 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
796 @end itemize
797
798 @menu
799 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
800 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
801 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
802 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
803 @end menu
804
805 @node Invoking GDB
806 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
807
808 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
809 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
810
811 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
812 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
813
814 The command-line options described here are designed
815 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
816 options may effectively be unavailable.
817
818 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
819 specifying an executable program:
820
821 @smallexample
822 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
823 @end smallexample
824
825 @noindent
826 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
827 specified:
828
829 @smallexample
830 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
831 @end smallexample
832
833 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
834 to debug a running process:
835
836 @smallexample
837 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
838 @end smallexample
839
840 @noindent
841 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
842 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
843
844 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
845 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
846 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
847 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
848 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
849
850 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
851 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
852 option processing.
853 @smallexample
854 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
855 @end smallexample
856 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
857 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
858
859 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
860 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
861
862 @smallexample
863 @value{GDBP} -silent
864 @end smallexample
865
866 @noindent
867 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
868 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
869
870 @noindent
871 Type
872
873 @smallexample
874 @value{GDBP} -help
875 @end smallexample
876
877 @noindent
878 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
879 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
880
881 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
882 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
883 @samp{-x} option is used.
884
885
886 @menu
887 * File Options:: Choosing files
888 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
889 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
890 @end menu
891
892 @node File Options
893 @subsection Choosing Files
894
895 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
896 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
897 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
898 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
899 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
900 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
901 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
902 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
903 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
904 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
905 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
906 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
907 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
908
909 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
910 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
911 argument and ignore it.
912
913 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
914 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
915 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
916 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
917 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
918
919 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
920 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
921 @c it.
922
923 @table @code
924 @item -symbols @var{file}
925 @itemx -s @var{file}
926 @cindex @code{--symbols}
927 @cindex @code{-s}
928 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
929
930 @item -exec @var{file}
931 @itemx -e @var{file}
932 @cindex @code{--exec}
933 @cindex @code{-e}
934 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
935 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
936
937 @item -se @var{file}
938 @cindex @code{--se}
939 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
940 file.
941
942 @item -core @var{file}
943 @itemx -c @var{file}
944 @cindex @code{--core}
945 @cindex @code{-c}
946 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
947
948 @item -pid @var{number}
949 @itemx -p @var{number}
950 @cindex @code{--pid}
951 @cindex @code{-p}
952 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
953
954 @item -command @var{file}
955 @itemx -x @var{file}
956 @cindex @code{--command}
957 @cindex @code{-x}
958 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}. @xref{Command
959 Files,, Command files}.
960
961 @item -eval-command @var{command}
962 @itemx -ex @var{command}
963 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
964 @cindex @code{-ex}
965 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
966
967 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
968 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
969
970 @smallexample
971 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
972 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
973 @end smallexample
974
975 @item -directory @var{directory}
976 @itemx -d @var{directory}
977 @cindex @code{--directory}
978 @cindex @code{-d}
979 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
980
981 @item -r
982 @itemx -readnow
983 @cindex @code{--readnow}
984 @cindex @code{-r}
985 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
986 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
987 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
988
989 @end table
990
991 @node Mode Options
992 @subsection Choosing Modes
993
994 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
995 batch mode or quiet mode.
996
997 @table @code
998 @item -nx
999 @itemx -n
1000 @cindex @code{--nx}
1001 @cindex @code{-n}
1002 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1003 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1004 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1005 Files}.
1006
1007 @item -quiet
1008 @itemx -silent
1009 @itemx -q
1010 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1011 @cindex @code{--silent}
1012 @cindex @code{-q}
1013 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1014 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1015
1016 @item -batch
1017 @cindex @code{--batch}
1018 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1019 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1020 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1021 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1022 in the command files.
1023
1024 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1025 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1026 make this more useful, the message
1027
1028 @smallexample
1029 Program exited normally.
1030 @end smallexample
1031
1032 @noindent
1033 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1034 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1035 mode.
1036
1037 @item -batch-silent
1038 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1039 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1040 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1041 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1042 for an interactive session.
1043
1044 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1045 messages, for example.
1046
1047 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1048 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1049
1050 @item -return-child-result
1051 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1052 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1053 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1054
1055 @itemize @bullet
1056 @item
1057 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1058 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1059 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1060 @item
1061 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1062 @item
1063 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1064 the exit code will be -1.
1065 @end itemize
1066
1067 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1068 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1069 interface.
1070
1071 @item -nowindows
1072 @itemx -nw
1073 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1074 @cindex @code{-nw}
1075 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1076 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1077 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1078
1079 @item -windows
1080 @itemx -w
1081 @cindex @code{--windows}
1082 @cindex @code{-w}
1083 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1084 used if possible.
1085
1086 @item -cd @var{directory}
1087 @cindex @code{--cd}
1088 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1089 instead of the current directory.
1090
1091 @item -fullname
1092 @itemx -f
1093 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1094 @cindex @code{-f}
1095 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1096 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1097 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1098 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1099 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1100 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1101 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1102 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1103 frame.
1104
1105 @item -epoch
1106 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1107 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1108 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1109 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1110 separate window.
1111
1112 @item -annotate @var{level}
1113 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1114 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1115 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1116 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1117 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1118 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1119 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1120 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1121 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1122
1123 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1124 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1125
1126 @item --args
1127 @cindex @code{--args}
1128 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1129 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1130 This option stops option processing.
1131
1132 @item -baud @var{bps}
1133 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1134 @cindex @code{--baud}
1135 @cindex @code{-b}
1136 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1137 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1138
1139 @item -l @var{timeout}
1140 @cindex @code{-l}
1141 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1142 for remote debugging.
1143
1144 @item -tty @var{device}
1145 @itemx -t @var{device}
1146 @cindex @code{--tty}
1147 @cindex @code{-t}
1148 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1149 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1150
1151 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1152 @item -tui
1153 @cindex @code{--tui}
1154 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1155 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1156 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1157 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1158 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1159 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1160 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1161
1162 @c @item -xdb
1163 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1164 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1165 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1166 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1167 @c systems.
1168
1169 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1170 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1171 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1172 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1173 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1174 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1175
1176 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1177 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1178 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1179 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1180 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1181 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1182
1183 @item -write
1184 @cindex @code{--write}
1185 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1186 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1187 (@pxref{Patching}).
1188
1189 @item -statistics
1190 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1191 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1192 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1193
1194 @item -version
1195 @cindex @code{--version}
1196 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1197 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1198
1199 @end table
1200
1201 @node Startup
1202 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1203 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1204
1205 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1206
1207 @enumerate
1208 @item
1209 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1210 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1211
1212 @item
1213 @cindex init file
1214 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1215 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1216 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1217 that file.
1218
1219 @item
1220 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1221 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1222 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1223 that file.
1224
1225 @item
1226 Processes command line options and operands.
1227
1228 @item
1229 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1230 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1231 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1232 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1233 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1234 @value{GDBN}.
1235
1236 @item
1237 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1238 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1239
1240 @item
1241 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1242 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1243 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1244 @end enumerate
1245
1246 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1247 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1248 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1249 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1250 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1251 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1252
1253 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1254 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1255
1256 @cindex init file name
1257 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1258 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1259 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1260 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1261 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1262 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1263 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1264 the file to the standard name.
1265
1266
1267 @node Quitting GDB
1268 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1269 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1270 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1271
1272 @table @code
1273 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1274 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1275 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1276 @itemx q
1277 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1278 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1279 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1280 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1281 error code.
1282 @end table
1283
1284 @cindex interrupt
1285 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1286 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1287 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1288 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1289 until a time when it is safe.
1290
1291 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1292 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1293 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1294
1295 @node Shell Commands
1296 @section Shell Commands
1297
1298 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1299 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1300 just use the @code{shell} command.
1301
1302 @table @code
1303 @kindex shell
1304 @cindex shell escape
1305 @item shell @var{command string}
1306 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1307 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1308 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1309 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1310 @end table
1311
1312 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1313 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1314 @value{GDBN}:
1315
1316 @table @code
1317 @kindex make
1318 @cindex calling make
1319 @item make @var{make-args}
1320 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1321 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1322 @end table
1323
1324 @node Logging Output
1325 @section Logging Output
1326 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1327 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1328
1329 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1330 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1331
1332 @table @code
1333 @kindex set logging
1334 @item set logging on
1335 Enable logging.
1336 @item set logging off
1337 Disable logging.
1338 @cindex logging file name
1339 @item set logging file @var{file}
1340 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1341 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1342 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1343 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1344 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1345 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1346 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1347 @kindex show logging
1348 @item show logging
1349 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1350 @end table
1351
1352 @node Commands
1353 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1354
1355 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1356 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1357 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1358 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1359 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1360
1361 @menu
1362 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1363 * Completion:: Command completion
1364 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1365 @end menu
1366
1367 @node Command Syntax
1368 @section Command Syntax
1369
1370 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1371 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1372 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1373 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1374 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1375 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1376
1377 @cindex abbreviation
1378 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1379 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1380 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1381 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1382 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1383 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1384 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1385
1386 @cindex repeating commands
1387 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1388 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1389 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1390 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1391 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1392 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1393 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1394
1395 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1396 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1397 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1398
1399 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1400 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1401 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1402 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1403 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1404
1405 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1406 @cindex comment
1407 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1408 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1409 Files,,Command Files}).
1410
1411 @cindex repeating command sequences
1412 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1413 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1414 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1415 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1416 for editing.
1417
1418 @node Completion
1419 @section Command Completion
1420
1421 @cindex completion
1422 @cindex word completion
1423 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1424 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1425 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1426 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1427
1428 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1429 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1430 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1431 enter it). For example, if you type
1432
1433 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1434 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1435 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1436 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1437 @smallexample
1438 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1439 @end smallexample
1440
1441 @noindent
1442 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1443 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1444
1445 @smallexample
1446 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1447 @end smallexample
1448
1449 @noindent
1450 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1451 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1452 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1453 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1454 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1455 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1456
1457 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1458 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1459 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1460 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1461 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1462 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1463 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1464 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1465 example:
1466
1467 @smallexample
1468 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1469 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1470 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1471 make_abs_section make_function_type
1472 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1473 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1474 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1475 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1476 @end smallexample
1477
1478 @noindent
1479 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1480 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1481 command.
1482
1483 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1484 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1485 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1486 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1487 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1488
1489 @cindex quotes in commands
1490 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1491 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1492 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1493 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1494 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1495 @value{GDBN} commands.
1496
1497 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1498 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1499 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1500 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1501 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1502 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1503 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1504 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1505 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1506 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1507 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1508
1509 @smallexample
1510 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1511 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1512 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1513 @end smallexample
1514
1515 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1516 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1517 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1518 place:
1519
1520 @smallexample
1521 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1522 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1523 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1524 @end smallexample
1525
1526 @noindent
1527 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1528 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1529 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1530
1531 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1532 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1533 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1534 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1535
1536 @cindex completion of structure field names
1537 @cindex structure field name completion
1538 @cindex completion of union field names
1539 @cindex union field name completion
1540 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1541 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1542 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1543 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1544 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1545 left-hand-side:
1546
1547 @smallexample
1548 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1549 magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1550 to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1551 @end smallexample
1552
1553 @noindent
1554 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1555 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1556 follows:
1557
1558 @smallexample
1559 struct ui_file
1560 @{
1561 int *magic;
1562 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1563 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1564 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1565 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1566 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1567 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1568 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1569 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1570 void *to_data;
1571 @}
1572 @end smallexample
1573
1574
1575 @node Help
1576 @section Getting Help
1577 @cindex online documentation
1578 @kindex help
1579
1580 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1581 using the command @code{help}.
1582
1583 @table @code
1584 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1585 @item help
1586 @itemx h
1587 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1588 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1589
1590 @smallexample
1591 (@value{GDBP}) help
1592 List of classes of commands:
1593
1594 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1595 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1596 data -- Examining data
1597 files -- Specifying and examining files
1598 internals -- Maintenance commands
1599 obscure -- Obscure features
1600 running -- Running the program
1601 stack -- Examining the stack
1602 status -- Status inquiries
1603 support -- Support facilities
1604 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1605 stopping the program
1606 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1607
1608 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1609 commands in that class.
1610 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1611 documentation.
1612 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1613 (@value{GDBP})
1614 @end smallexample
1615 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1616
1617 @item help @var{class}
1618 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1619 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1620 help display for the class @code{status}:
1621
1622 @smallexample
1623 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1624 Status inquiries.
1625
1626 List of commands:
1627
1628 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1629 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1630 info -- Generic command for showing things
1631 about the program being debugged
1632 show -- Generic command for showing things
1633 about the debugger
1634
1635 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1636 documentation.
1637 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1638 (@value{GDBP})
1639 @end smallexample
1640
1641 @item help @var{command}
1642 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1643 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1644
1645 @kindex apropos
1646 @item apropos @var{args}
1647 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1648 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1649 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1650
1651 @smallexample
1652 apropos reload
1653 @end smallexample
1654
1655 @noindent
1656 results in:
1657
1658 @smallexample
1659 @c @group
1660 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1661 multiple times in one run
1662 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1663 multiple times in one run
1664 @c @end group
1665 @end smallexample
1666
1667 @kindex complete
1668 @item complete @var{args}
1669 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1670 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1671 command you want completed. For example:
1672
1673 @smallexample
1674 complete i
1675 @end smallexample
1676
1677 @noindent results in:
1678
1679 @smallexample
1680 @group
1681 if
1682 ignore
1683 info
1684 inspect
1685 @end group
1686 @end smallexample
1687
1688 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1689 @end table
1690
1691 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1692 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1693 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1694 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1695 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1696 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1697
1698 @c @group
1699 @table @code
1700 @kindex info
1701 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1702 @item info
1703 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1704 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1705 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1706 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1707 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1708 @w{@code{help info}}.
1709
1710 @kindex set
1711 @item set
1712 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1713 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1714 @code{set prompt $}.
1715
1716 @kindex show
1717 @item show
1718 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1719 @value{GDBN} itself.
1720 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1721 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1722 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1723 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1724
1725 @kindex info set
1726 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1727 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1728 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1729 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1730 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1731 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1732 @end table
1733 @c @end group
1734
1735 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1736 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1737
1738 @table @code
1739 @kindex show version
1740 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1741 @item show version
1742 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1743 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1744 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1745 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1746 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1747 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1748 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1749 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1750 @value{GDBN}.
1751
1752 @kindex show copying
1753 @kindex info copying
1754 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1755 @item show copying
1756 @itemx info copying
1757 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1758
1759 @kindex show warranty
1760 @kindex info warranty
1761 @item show warranty
1762 @itemx info warranty
1763 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1764 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1765
1766 @end table
1767
1768 @node Running
1769 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1770
1771 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1772 debugging information when you compile it.
1773
1774 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1775 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1776 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1777 kill a child process.
1778
1779 @menu
1780 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1781 * Starting:: Starting your program
1782 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1783 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1784
1785 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1786 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1787 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1788 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1789
1790 * Inferiors:: Debugging multiple inferiors
1791 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1792 * Processes:: Debugging programs with multiple processes
1793 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1794 @end menu
1795
1796 @node Compilation
1797 @section Compiling for Debugging
1798
1799 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1800 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1801 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1802 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1803 and addresses in the executable code.
1804
1805 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1806 the compiler.
1807
1808 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1809 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, many
1810 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1811 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1812 executables containing debugging information.
1813
1814 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1815 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1816 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1817 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1818 in pushing your luck.
1819
1820 @cindex optimized code, debugging
1821 @cindex debugging optimized code
1822 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
1823 optimizer is rearranging your code; the debugger shows you what is
1824 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
1825 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
1826 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
1827 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
1828
1829 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
1830 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
1831 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
1832 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
1833 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
1834
1835 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1836 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1837 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1838
1839 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1840 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1841 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1842 the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1843 Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1844 provides macro information if you specify the options
1845 @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1846 debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1847 ``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1848 ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1849 @option{-g} alone.
1850
1851 @need 2000
1852 @node Starting
1853 @section Starting your Program
1854 @cindex starting
1855 @cindex running
1856
1857 @table @code
1858 @kindex run
1859 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1860 @item run
1861 @itemx r
1862 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1863 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1864 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1865 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1866 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1867
1868 @end table
1869
1870 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1871 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1872 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1873 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1874 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1875 message like this one:
1876
1877 @smallexample
1878 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1879 Try "help target" or "continue".
1880 @end smallexample
1881
1882 @noindent
1883 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1884 first (@pxref{load}).
1885
1886 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1887 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1888 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1889 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1890 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1891 divided into four categories:
1892
1893 @table @asis
1894 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1895 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1896 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1897 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1898 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1899 the arguments.
1900 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1901 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1902 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1903
1904 @item The @emph{environment.}
1905 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1906 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1907 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1908 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1909
1910 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1911 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1912 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1913 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1914
1915 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1916 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1917 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1918 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1919 set a different device for your program.
1920 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1921
1922 @cindex pipes
1923 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1924 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1925 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1926 wrong program.
1927 @end table
1928
1929 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1930 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1931 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1932 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1933 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1934
1935 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1936 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1937 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1938 your current breakpoints.
1939
1940 @table @code
1941 @kindex start
1942 @item start
1943 @cindex run to main procedure
1944 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1945 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1946 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1947 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1948 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1949 procedure, depending on the language used.
1950
1951 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1952 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1953 the @samp{run} command.
1954
1955 @cindex elaboration phase
1956 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1957 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1958 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1959 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1960 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1961 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1962 will remain to halt execution.
1963
1964 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1965 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1966 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
1967 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
1968 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
1969
1970 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
1971 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
1972 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
1973 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
1974 elaboration code before running your program.
1975
1976 @kindex set exec-wrapper
1977 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
1978 @itemx show exec-wrapper
1979 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
1980 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
1981 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
1982 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
1983 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
1984 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
1985 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
1986 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
1987
1988 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
1989 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
1990 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
1991 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
1992
1993 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
1994 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
1995 environment:
1996
1997 @smallexample
1998 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
1999 (@value{GDBP}) run
2000 @end smallexample
2001
2002 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2003 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2004
2005 @kindex set disable-randomization
2006 @item set disable-randomization
2007 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2008 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2009 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2010 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2011 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2012
2013 This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2014 behavior using
2015
2016 @smallexample
2017 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2018 @end smallexample
2019
2020 @item set disable-randomization off
2021 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2022 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2023 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2024 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2025 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2026 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2027
2028 The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2029 It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2030 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2031 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2032 a code at its expected addresses.
2033
2034 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2035 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2036 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2037 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2038 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2039 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2040 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2041 a randomly chosen address.
2042
2043 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2044 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2045 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2046 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2047 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2048
2049 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2050 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2051
2052 @item show disable-randomization
2053 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2054 the virtual address space of the started program.
2055
2056 @end table
2057
2058 @node Arguments
2059 @section Your Program's Arguments
2060
2061 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2062 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2063 @code{run} command.
2064 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2065 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2066 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2067 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2068 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2069
2070 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2071 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2072 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2073 the program, not by the shell.
2074
2075 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2076 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2077
2078 @table @code
2079 @kindex set args
2080 @item set args
2081 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2082 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2083 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2084 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2085 it again without arguments.
2086
2087 @kindex show args
2088 @item show args
2089 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2090 @end table
2091
2092 @node Environment
2093 @section Your Program's Environment
2094
2095 @cindex environment (of your program)
2096 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2097 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2098 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2099 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2100 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2101 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2102 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2103
2104 @table @code
2105 @kindex path
2106 @item path @var{directory}
2107 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2108 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2109 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2110 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2111 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2112 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2113 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2114
2115 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2116 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2117 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2118 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2119 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2120 @var{directory} to the search path.
2121 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2122 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2123
2124 @kindex show paths
2125 @item show paths
2126 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2127 environment variable).
2128
2129 @kindex show environment
2130 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2131 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2132 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2133 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2134 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2135
2136 @kindex set environment
2137 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2138 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2139 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2140 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2141 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2142 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2143 null value.
2144 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2145 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2146
2147 For example, this command:
2148
2149 @smallexample
2150 set env USER = foo
2151 @end smallexample
2152
2153 @noindent
2154 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2155 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2156 are not actually required.)
2157
2158 @kindex unset environment
2159 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2160 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2161 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2162 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2163 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2164 @end table
2165
2166 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2167 the shell indicated
2168 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2169 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2170 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2171 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2172 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2173 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2174 @file{.profile}.
2175
2176 @node Working Directory
2177 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2178
2179 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2180 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2181 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2182 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2183 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2184 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2185
2186 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2187 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2188 Specify Files}.
2189
2190 @table @code
2191 @kindex cd
2192 @cindex change working directory
2193 @item cd @var{directory}
2194 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2195
2196 @kindex pwd
2197 @item pwd
2198 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2199 @end table
2200
2201 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2202 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2203 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2204 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2205 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2206 current working directory of the debuggee.
2207
2208 @node Input/Output
2209 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2210
2211 @cindex redirection
2212 @cindex i/o
2213 @cindex terminal
2214 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2215 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2216 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2217 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2218 running your program.
2219
2220 @table @code
2221 @kindex info terminal
2222 @item info terminal
2223 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2224 program is using.
2225 @end table
2226
2227 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2228 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2229
2230 @smallexample
2231 run > outfile
2232 @end smallexample
2233
2234 @noindent
2235 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2236
2237 @kindex tty
2238 @cindex controlling terminal
2239 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2240 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2241 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2242 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2243 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2244
2245 @smallexample
2246 tty /dev/ttyb
2247 @end smallexample
2248
2249 @noindent
2250 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2251 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2252 that as their controlling terminal.
2253
2254 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2255 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2256 terminal.
2257
2258 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2259 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2260 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2261 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2262
2263 @cindex inferior tty
2264 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2265 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2266 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2267 program.
2268
2269 @table @code
2270 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2271 @kindex set inferior-tty
2272 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2273
2274 @item show inferior-tty
2275 @kindex show inferior-tty
2276 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2277 @end table
2278
2279 @node Attach
2280 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2281 @kindex attach
2282 @cindex attach
2283
2284 @table @code
2285 @item attach @var{process-id}
2286 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2287 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2288 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2289 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2290 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2291
2292 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2293 executing the command.
2294 @end table
2295
2296 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2297 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2298 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2299 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2300
2301 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2302 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2303 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2304 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2305 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2306 Specify Files}.
2307
2308 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2309 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2310 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2311 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2312 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2313 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2314 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2315
2316 @table @code
2317 @kindex detach
2318 @item detach
2319 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2320 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2321 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2322 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2323 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2324 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2325 executing the command.
2326 @end table
2327
2328 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2329 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2330 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2331 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2332 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2333 Messages}).
2334
2335 @node Kill Process
2336 @section Killing the Child Process
2337
2338 @table @code
2339 @kindex kill
2340 @item kill
2341 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2342 @end table
2343
2344 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2345 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2346 is running.
2347
2348 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2349 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2350 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2351 outside the debugger.
2352
2353 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2354 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2355 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2356 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2357 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2358 breakpoint settings).
2359
2360 @node Inferiors
2361 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2362
2363 Some @value{GDBN} targets are able to run multiple processes created
2364 from a single executable. This can happen, for instance, with an
2365 embedded system reporting back several processes via the remote
2366 protocol.
2367
2368 @cindex inferior
2369 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2370 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2371 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2372 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2373 may (in future) be retained after a process exits. Each run of an
2374 executable creates a new inferior, as does each attachment to an
2375 existing process. Inferiors have unique identifiers that are
2376 different from process ids, and may optionally be named as well.
2377 Usually each inferior will also have its own distinct address space,
2378 although some embedded targets may have several inferiors running in
2379 different parts of a single space.
2380
2381 Each inferior may in turn have multiple threads running in it.
2382
2383 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @code{info inferiors}:
2384
2385 @table @code
2386 @kindex info inferiors
2387 @item info inferiors
2388 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2389
2390 @kindex set print inferior-events
2391 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2392 @item set print inferior-events
2393 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2394 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2395 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2396 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2397 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2398 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2399
2400 @kindex show print inferior-events
2401 @item show print inferior-events
2402 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2403 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2404 @end table
2405
2406 @node Threads
2407 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2408
2409 @cindex threads of execution
2410 @cindex multiple threads
2411 @cindex switching threads
2412 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2413 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2414 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2415 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2416 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2417 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2418 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2419
2420 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2421 programs:
2422
2423 @itemize @bullet
2424 @item automatic notification of new threads
2425 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2426 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2427 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2428 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2429 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2430 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2431 messages on thread start and exit.
2432 @end itemize
2433
2434 @quotation
2435 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2436 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2437 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2438 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2439 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2440 like this:
2441
2442 @smallexample
2443 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2444 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2445 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2446 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2447 @end smallexample
2448 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2449 @c doesn't support threads"?
2450 @end quotation
2451
2452 @cindex focus of debugging
2453 @cindex current thread
2454 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2455 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2456 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2457 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2458 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2459
2460 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2461 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2462 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2463 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2464 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2465 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2466 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2467 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2468 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2469 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2470
2471 @smallexample
2472 [New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2473 @end smallexample
2474
2475 @noindent
2476 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2477 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2478 further qualifier.
2479
2480 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2481 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2482 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2483 @c program?
2484 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2485 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2486 @c threads ab initio?
2487
2488 @cindex thread number
2489 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2490 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2491 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2492
2493 @table @code
2494 @kindex info threads
2495 @item info threads
2496 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2497 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2498
2499 @enumerate
2500 @item
2501 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2502
2503 @item
2504 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2505
2506 @item
2507 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2508 @end enumerate
2509
2510 @noindent
2511 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2512 indicates the current thread.
2513
2514 For example,
2515 @end table
2516 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2517
2518 @smallexample
2519 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2520 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2521 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2522 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2523 at threadtest.c:68
2524 @end smallexample
2525
2526 On HP-UX systems:
2527
2528 @cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2529 @cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2530 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2531 number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2532 thread in your program.
2533
2534 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2535 @cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2536 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2537 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2538 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2539 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2540 both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2541 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2542 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2543 HP-UX, you see
2544
2545 @smallexample
2546 [New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2547 @end smallexample
2548
2549 @noindent
2550 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2551
2552 @table @code
2553 @kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2554 @item info threads
2555 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2556 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2557
2558 @enumerate
2559 @item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2560
2561 @item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2562
2563 @item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2564 @end enumerate
2565
2566 @noindent
2567 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2568 indicates the current thread.
2569
2570 For example,
2571 @end table
2572 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2573
2574 @smallexample
2575 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2576 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2577 at quicksort.c:137
2578 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2579 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2580 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2581 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2582 @end smallexample
2583
2584 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2585 Solaris-specific command:
2586
2587 @table @code
2588 @item maint info sol-threads
2589 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2590 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2591 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2592 @end table
2593
2594 @table @code
2595 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2596 @item thread @var{threadno}
2597 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2598 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2599 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2600 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2601 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2602
2603 @smallexample
2604 @c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2605 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2606 [Switching to process 35 thread 23]
2607 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2608 @end smallexample
2609
2610 @noindent
2611 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2612 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2613 threads.
2614
2615 @kindex thread apply
2616 @cindex apply command to several threads
2617 @item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2618 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2619 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2620 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2621 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2622 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2623 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2624 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2625
2626 @kindex set print thread-events
2627 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2628 @item set print thread-events
2629 @itemx set print thread-events on
2630 @itemx set print thread-events off
2631 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2632 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2633 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2634 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2635 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2636
2637 @kindex show print thread-events
2638 @item show print thread-events
2639 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2640 have started and exited.
2641 @end table
2642
2643 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2644 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2645 programs with multiple threads.
2646
2647 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2648 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2649
2650 @node Processes
2651 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Processes
2652
2653 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2654 @cindex multiple processes
2655 @cindex processes, multiple
2656 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2657 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2658 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2659 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2660 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2661 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2662 will cause it to terminate.
2663
2664 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2665 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2666 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2667 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2668 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2669 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2670 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2671 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2672 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2673 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2674
2675 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2676 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2677 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2678 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2679
2680 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2681 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2682
2683 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2684 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2685
2686 @table @code
2687 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2688 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2689 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2690 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2691 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2692
2693 @table @code
2694 @item parent
2695 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2696 unimpeded. This is the default.
2697
2698 @item child
2699 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2700 unimpeded.
2701
2702 @end table
2703
2704 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2705 @item show follow-fork-mode
2706 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2707 @end table
2708
2709 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2710 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2711 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2712
2713 @table @code
2714 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2715 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2716 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2717 retain debugger control over them both.
2718
2719 @table @code
2720 @item on
2721 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2722 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2723 independently. This is the default.
2724
2725 @item off
2726 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2727 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2728 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2729 is held suspended.
2730
2731 @end table
2732
2733 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2734 @item show detach-on-fork
2735 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2736 @end table
2737
2738 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then
2739 @value{GDBN} will retain control of all forked processes (including
2740 nested forks). You can list the forked processes under the control of
2741 @value{GDBN} by using the @w{@code{info forks}} command, and switch
2742 from one fork to another by using the @w{@code{fork}} command.
2743
2744 @table @code
2745 @kindex info forks
2746 @item info forks
2747 Print a list of all forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2748 The listing will include a fork id, a process id, and the current
2749 position (program counter) of the process.
2750
2751 @kindex fork @var{fork-id}
2752 @item fork @var{fork-id}
2753 Make fork number @var{fork-id} the current process. The argument
2754 @var{fork-id} is the internal fork number assigned by @value{GDBN},
2755 as shown in the first field of the @samp{info forks} display.
2756
2757 @kindex process @var{process-id}
2758 @item process @var{process-id}
2759 Make process number @var{process-id} the current process. The
2760 argument @var{process-id} must be one that is listed in the output of
2761 @samp{info forks}.
2762
2763 @end table
2764
2765 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2766 from it by using the @w{@code{detach fork}} command (allowing it to
2767 run independently), or delete (and kill) it using the
2768 @w{@code{delete fork}} command.
2769
2770 @table @code
2771 @kindex detach fork @var{fork-id}
2772 @item detach fork @var{fork-id}
2773 Detach from the process identified by @value{GDBN} fork number
2774 @var{fork-id}, and remove it from the fork list. The process will be
2775 allowed to run independently.
2776
2777 @kindex delete fork @var{fork-id}
2778 @item delete fork @var{fork-id}
2779 Kill the process identified by @value{GDBN} fork number @var{fork-id},
2780 and remove it from the fork list.
2781
2782 @end table
2783
2784 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2785 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2786 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2787 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2788 the child process's @code{main}.
2789
2790 When a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you cannot debug the
2791 child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2792
2793 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2794 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent process,
2795 use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name as its
2796 argument.
2797
2798 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
2799 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
2800 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
2801
2802 @node Checkpoint/Restart
2803 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
2804
2805 @cindex checkpoint
2806 @cindex restart
2807 @cindex bookmark
2808 @cindex snapshot of a process
2809 @cindex rewind program state
2810
2811 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
2812 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
2813 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
2814 later.
2815
2816 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
2817 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
2818 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
2819 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
2820 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
2821
2822 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
2823 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
2824 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
2825 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
2826 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
2827 start again from there.
2828
2829 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
2830 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
2831
2832 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
2833
2834 @table @code
2835 @kindex checkpoint
2836 @item checkpoint
2837 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
2838 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
2839 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
2840
2841 @kindex info checkpoints
2842 @item info checkpoints
2843 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
2844 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
2845 listed:
2846
2847 @table @code
2848 @item Checkpoint ID
2849 @item Process ID
2850 @item Code Address
2851 @item Source line, or label
2852 @end table
2853
2854 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
2855 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
2856 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
2857 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
2858 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
2859 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
2860 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
2861
2862 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
2863 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
2864 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
2865 the debugger.
2866
2867 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
2868 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
2869 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
2870
2871 @end table
2872
2873 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
2874 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
2875 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
2876 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
2877 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
2878 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
2879 previously read data can be read again.
2880
2881 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
2882 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
2883 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
2884 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
2885 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
2886 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
2887
2888 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
2889 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
2890 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
2891 different execution path this time.
2892
2893 @cindex checkpoints and process id
2894 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
2895 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
2896 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
2897 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
2898 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
2899 potentially pose a problem.
2900
2901 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
2902
2903 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
2904 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
2905 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
2906 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
2907 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
2908 next.
2909
2910 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
2911 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
2912 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
2913 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
2914 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
2915
2916 @node Stopping
2917 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
2918
2919 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
2920 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
2921 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
2922
2923 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
2924 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
2925 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
2926 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
2927 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
2928 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
2929 explicitly request this information at any time.
2930
2931 @table @code
2932 @kindex info program
2933 @item info program
2934 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
2935 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
2936 @end table
2937
2938 @menu
2939 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
2940 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
2941 * Signals:: Signals
2942 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
2943 @end menu
2944
2945 @node Breakpoints
2946 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
2947
2948 @cindex breakpoints
2949 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
2950 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
2951 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
2952 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
2953 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
2954 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
2955 program.
2956
2957 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
2958 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
2959 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
2960 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
2961 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
2962 call).
2963
2964 @cindex watchpoints
2965 @cindex data breakpoints
2966 @cindex memory tracing
2967 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
2968 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
2969 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
2970 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
2971 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
2972 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
2973 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
2974 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
2975 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
2976 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
2977 same commands.
2978
2979 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
2980 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
2981 Automatic Display}.
2982
2983 @cindex catchpoints
2984 @cindex breakpoint on events
2985 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
2986 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
2987 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
2988 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
2989 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
2990 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
2991 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
2992
2993 @cindex breakpoint numbers
2994 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
2995 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
2996 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
2997 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
2998 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
2999 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3000 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3001 enable it again.
3002
3003 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3004 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3005 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3006 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3007 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3008 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3009 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3010
3011 @menu
3012 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3013 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3014 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3015 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3016 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3017 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3018 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3019 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3020 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3021 @end menu
3022
3023 @node Set Breaks
3024 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3025
3026 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3027 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3028 @c
3029 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3030
3031 @kindex break
3032 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3033 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3034 @cindex latest breakpoint
3035 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3036 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3037 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3038 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3039 convenience variables.
3040
3041 @table @code
3042 @item break @var{location}
3043 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3044 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3045 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3046 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3047 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3048
3049 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3050 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3051 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3052 that situation.
3053
3054 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3055 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3056 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3057
3058 @item break
3059 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3060 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3061 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3062 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3063 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3064 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3065 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3066 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3067 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3068 inside loops.
3069
3070 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3071 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3072 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3073 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3074 existed when your program stopped.
3075
3076 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3077 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3078 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3079 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3080 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3081 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3082 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3083
3084 @kindex tbreak
3085 @item tbreak @var{args}
3086 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3087 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3088 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3089 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3090
3091 @kindex hbreak
3092 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3093 @item hbreak @var{args}
3094 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3095 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3096 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3097 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3098 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3099 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3100 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3101 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3102 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3103 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3104 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3105 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3106 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3107 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3108 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3109 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3110 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3111 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3112
3113 @kindex thbreak
3114 @item thbreak @var{args}
3115 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3116 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3117 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3118 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3119 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3120 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3121 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3122 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3123
3124 @kindex rbreak
3125 @cindex regular expression
3126 @cindex breakpoints in functions matching a regexp
3127 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3128 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3129 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3130 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3131 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3132 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3133 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3134 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3135
3136 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3137 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3138 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3139 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3140 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3141 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3142
3143 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3144 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3145 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3146 classes.
3147
3148 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3149 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3150 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3151
3152 @smallexample
3153 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3154 @end smallexample
3155
3156 @kindex info breakpoints
3157 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3158 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3159 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3160 @itemx info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3161 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3162 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3163 about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3164 each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3165
3166 @table @emph
3167 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3168 @item Type
3169 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3170 @item Disposition
3171 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3172 @item Enabled or Disabled
3173 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3174 that are not enabled.
3175 @item Address
3176 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3177 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3178 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3179 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3180 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3181 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3182 @item What
3183 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3184 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3185 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3186 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3187 @end table
3188
3189 @noindent
3190 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3191 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3192 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3193 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3194 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3195 valid location.
3196
3197 @noindent
3198 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3199 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3200 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3201 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3202 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3203
3204 @noindent
3205 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3206 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3207 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3208 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3209 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3210 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3211 @end table
3212
3213 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3214 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3215 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3216 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3217
3218 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3219 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3220 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3221 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3222
3223 @itemize @bullet
3224 @item
3225 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3226 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3227
3228 @item
3229 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3230 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3231
3232 @item
3233 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3234 several places where that function is inlined.
3235 @end itemize
3236
3237 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3238 the relevant locations@footnote{
3239 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3240 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3241 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3242 info with line numbers for them.}.
3243
3244 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3245 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3246 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3247 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3248 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3249 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3250 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3251
3252 For example:
3253
3254 @smallexample
3255 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3256 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3257 stop only if i==1
3258 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3259 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3260 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3261 @end smallexample
3262
3263 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3264 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3265 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3266 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3267 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3268 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3269 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3270 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3271 that belong to that breakpoint.
3272
3273 @cindex pending breakpoints
3274 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3275 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3276 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3277 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3278 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3279 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3280 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3281 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3282 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3283 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3284 is not yet resolved.
3285
3286 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3287 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3288 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3289 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3290 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3291 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3292
3293 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3294 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3295 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3296 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3297
3298 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3299 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3300 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3301
3302 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3303 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3304 address specification to an address:
3305
3306 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3307 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3308 @table @code
3309 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3310 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3311 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3312
3313 @item set breakpoint pending on
3314 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3315 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3316
3317 @item set breakpoint pending off
3318 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3319 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3320 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3321
3322 @item show breakpoint pending
3323 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3324 @end table
3325
3326 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3327 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3328 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3329
3330 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3331 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3332 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3333 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3334 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3335 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3336 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3337 breakpoints.
3338
3339 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3340
3341 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3342 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3343 @table @code
3344 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3345 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3346 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3347 breakpoint must be used.
3348
3349 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3350 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3351 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3352 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3353 @end table
3354
3355 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3356 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3357 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3358 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3359 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3360 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3361 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3362 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3363 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3364
3365 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3366 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3367 @table @code
3368 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3369 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3370 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3371 removed from the target when it stops.
3372
3373 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3374 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3375 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3376 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3377 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3378
3379 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3380 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3381 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3382 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3383 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3384 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3385 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3386 @end table
3387
3388 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3389 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3390 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3391 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3392 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3393 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3394 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3395 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3396
3397
3398 @node Set Watchpoints
3399 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3400
3401 @cindex setting watchpoints
3402 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3403 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3404 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3405 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3406 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3407
3408 @itemize @bullet
3409 @item
3410 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3411
3412 @item
3413 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3414 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3415 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3416
3417 @item
3418 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3419 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3420 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3421 @end itemize
3422
3423 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3424 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3425 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3426 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3427 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3428 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3429 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3430 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3431 the expression changes.
3432
3433 @cindex software watchpoints
3434 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3435 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3436 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3437 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3438 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3439 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3440 culprit.)
3441
3442 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3443 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3444 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3445
3446 @table @code
3447 @kindex watch
3448 @item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3449 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3450 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3451 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3452 to watch the value of a single variable:
3453
3454 @smallexample
3455 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3456 @end smallexample
3457
3458 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3459 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3460 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3461 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3462 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3463 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3464
3465 @kindex rwatch
3466 @item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3467 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3468 by the program.
3469
3470 @kindex awatch
3471 @item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3472 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3473 or written into by the program.
3474
3475 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3476 @item info watchpoints
3477 This command prints a list of watchpoints, breakpoints, and catchpoints;
3478 it is the same as @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3479 @end table
3480
3481 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3482 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3483 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3484 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3485 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3486 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3487
3488 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3489 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3490 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3491 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3492 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3493 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3494 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3495 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3496
3497 @table @code
3498 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3499 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3500 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3501
3502 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3503 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3504 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3505 @end table
3506
3507 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3508 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3509 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3510
3511 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3512
3513 @smallexample
3514 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3515 @end smallexample
3516
3517 @noindent
3518 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3519
3520 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3521 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3522 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3523 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3524 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3525 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3526 will print a message like this:
3527
3528 @smallexample
3529 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3530 @end smallexample
3531
3532 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3533 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3534 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3535 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3536 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3537 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3538 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3539 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3540
3541 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3542 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3543 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3544 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3545 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3546 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3547
3548 @smallexample
3549 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3550 @end smallexample
3551
3552 @noindent
3553 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3554
3555 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3556 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3557 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3558 expression with separately allocated resources.
3559
3560 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3561 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3562 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3563
3564 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3565 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3566 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3567 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3568 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3569 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3570 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3571 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3572 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3573
3574 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3575 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3576 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3577 watched expression from every thread.
3578
3579 @quotation
3580 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3581 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3582 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3583 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3584 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3585 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3586 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3587 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3588 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3589 @end quotation
3590
3591 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3592
3593 @node Set Catchpoints
3594 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3595 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3596 @cindex exception handlers
3597 @cindex event handling
3598
3599 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3600 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3601 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3602
3603 @table @code
3604 @kindex catch
3605 @item catch @var{event}
3606 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3607 @table @code
3608 @item throw
3609 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3610 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3611
3612 @item catch
3613 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3614
3615 @item exception
3616 @cindex Ada exception catching
3617 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3618 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3619 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3620 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3621 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3622
3623 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3624 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3625 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3626 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3627 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3628 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3629 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3630 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3631
3632 @item exception unhandled
3633 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3634
3635 @item assert
3636 A failed Ada assertion.
3637
3638 @item exec
3639 @cindex break on fork/exec
3640 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3641 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3642
3643 @item fork
3644 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3645 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3646
3647 @item vfork
3648 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3649 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3650
3651 @end table
3652
3653 @item tcatch @var{event}
3654 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
3655 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
3656
3657 @end table
3658
3659 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
3660
3661 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
3662 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
3663
3664 @itemize @bullet
3665 @item
3666 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
3667 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
3668 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
3669 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
3670 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
3671 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
3672 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
3673 disabled within interactive calls.
3674
3675 @item
3676 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
3677
3678 @item
3679 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
3680 @end itemize
3681
3682 @cindex raise exceptions
3683 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
3684 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
3685 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
3686 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
3687 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
3688 out where the exception was raised.
3689
3690 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
3691 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
3692 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
3693 which has the following ANSI C interface:
3694
3695 @smallexample
3696 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
3697 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
3698 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
3699 @end smallexample
3700
3701 @noindent
3702 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
3703 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
3704 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
3705
3706 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
3707 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
3708 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
3709 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
3710 raised.
3711
3712
3713 @node Delete Breaks
3714 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
3715
3716 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
3717 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
3718 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3719 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
3720 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
3721 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
3722
3723 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
3724 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
3725 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
3726 their breakpoint numbers.
3727
3728 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
3729 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
3730 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
3731
3732 @table @code
3733 @kindex clear
3734 @item clear
3735 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
3736 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
3737 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
3738 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
3739
3740 @item clear @var{location}
3741 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
3742 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
3743 most useful ones are listed below:
3744
3745 @table @code
3746 @item clear @var{function}
3747 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
3748 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
3749
3750 @item clear @var{linenum}
3751 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
3752 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
3753 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
3754 @end table
3755
3756 @cindex delete breakpoints
3757 @kindex delete
3758 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
3759 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3760 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
3761 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
3762 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
3763 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
3764 @end table
3765
3766 @node Disabling
3767 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
3768
3769 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
3770 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
3771 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
3772 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
3773 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
3774
3775 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
3776 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying one
3777 or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} or
3778 @code{info watch} to print a list of breakpoints, watchpoints, and
3779 catchpoints if you do not know which numbers to use.
3780
3781 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
3782 affects all of its locations.
3783
3784 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
3785 states of enablement:
3786
3787 @itemize @bullet
3788 @item
3789 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
3790 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
3791 @item
3792 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
3793 @item
3794 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
3795 disabled.
3796 @item
3797 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
3798 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
3799 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
3800 @end itemize
3801
3802 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
3803 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
3804
3805 @table @code
3806 @kindex disable
3807 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
3808 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3809 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
3810 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
3811 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
3812 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
3813 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
3814
3815 @kindex enable
3816 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3817 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
3818 become effective once again in stopping your program.
3819
3820 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
3821 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
3822 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
3823
3824 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
3825 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
3826 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
3827 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
3828 @end table
3829
3830 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
3831 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
3832 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
3833 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
3834 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
3835 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
3836 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
3837 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
3838 Stepping}.)
3839
3840 @node Conditions
3841 @subsection Break Conditions
3842 @cindex conditional breakpoints
3843 @cindex breakpoint conditions
3844
3845 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
3846 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
3847 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
3848 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
3849 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
3850 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
3851 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
3852 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
3853
3854 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
3855 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
3856 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
3857 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
3858 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
3859
3860 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
3861 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
3862 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
3863 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
3864 one.
3865
3866 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
3867 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
3868 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
3869 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
3870 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
3871 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
3872 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
3873 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
3874 conditions for the
3875 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
3876 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
3877
3878 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
3879 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
3880 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
3881 with the @code{condition} command.
3882
3883 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
3884 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
3885 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
3886 catchpoint.
3887
3888 @table @code
3889 @kindex condition
3890 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
3891 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
3892 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
3893 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
3894 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
3895 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
3896 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
3897 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
3898 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
3899 prints an error message:
3900
3901 @smallexample
3902 No symbol "foo" in current context.
3903 @end smallexample
3904
3905 @noindent
3906 @value{GDBN} does
3907 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
3908 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
3909 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
3910
3911 @item condition @var{bnum}
3912 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
3913 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
3914 @end table
3915
3916 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
3917 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
3918 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
3919 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
3920 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
3921 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
3922 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
3923 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
3924 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
3925 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
3926 your program reaches it.
3927
3928 @table @code
3929 @kindex ignore
3930 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
3931 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
3932 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
3933 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
3934 takes no action.
3935
3936 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
3937 a count of zero.
3938
3939 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
3940 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
3941 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
3942 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
3943
3944 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
3945 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
3946 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
3947
3948 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
3949 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
3950 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
3951 Variables}.
3952 @end table
3953
3954 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
3955
3956
3957 @node Break Commands
3958 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
3959
3960 @cindex breakpoint commands
3961 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
3962 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
3963 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
3964 enable other breakpoints.
3965
3966 @table @code
3967 @kindex commands
3968 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
3969 @item commands @r{[}@var{bnum}@r{]}
3970 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
3971 @itemx end
3972 Specify a list of commands for breakpoint number @var{bnum}. The commands
3973 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
3974 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
3975
3976 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
3977 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
3978
3979 With no @var{bnum} argument, @code{commands} refers to the last
3980 breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most
3981 recently encountered).
3982 @end table
3983
3984 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
3985 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
3986
3987 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
3988 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
3989 that resumes execution.
3990
3991 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
3992 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
3993 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
3994 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
3995 ambiguities about which list to execute.
3996
3997 @kindex silent
3998 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
3999 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4000 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4001 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4002 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4003 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4004
4005 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4006 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4007 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4008
4009 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4010 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4011
4012 @smallexample
4013 break foo if x>0
4014 commands
4015 silent
4016 printf "x is %d\n",x
4017 cont
4018 end
4019 @end smallexample
4020
4021 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4022 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4023 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4024 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4025 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4026 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4027 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4028
4029 @smallexample
4030 break 403
4031 commands
4032 silent
4033 set x = y + 4
4034 cont
4035 end
4036 @end smallexample
4037
4038 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4039 @node Error in Breakpoints
4040 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4041
4042 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4043 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4044
4045 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4046 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4047 @smallexample
4048 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4049 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4050 @end smallexample
4051
4052 @noindent
4053 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4054 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4055 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4056
4057 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4058 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4059
4060 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4061 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4062 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4063
4064 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4065 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4066 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4067 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4068
4069 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4070 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4071 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4072 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4073 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4074 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4075 first in the bundle.
4076
4077 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4078 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4079 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4080 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4081 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4082 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4083 is hit.
4084
4085 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4086 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4087
4088 @smallexample
4089 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4090 @end smallexample
4091
4092 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4093 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4094 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4095 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4096 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4097 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4098 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4099 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4100
4101 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4102 adjusted breakpoints:
4103
4104 @smallexample
4105 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4106 to 0x00010410.
4107 @end smallexample
4108
4109 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4110 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4111 frequently than expected.
4112
4113 @node Continuing and Stepping
4114 @section Continuing and Stepping
4115
4116 @cindex stepping
4117 @cindex continuing
4118 @cindex resuming execution
4119 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4120 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4121 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4122 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4123 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4124 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4125 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4126 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4127
4128 @table @code
4129 @kindex continue
4130 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4131 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4132 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4133 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4134 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4135 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4136 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4137 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4138 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4139 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4140
4141 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4142 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4143 @code{continue} is ignored.
4144
4145 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4146 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4147 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4148 @code{continue}.
4149 @end table
4150
4151 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4152 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4153 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4154 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4155
4156 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4157 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4158 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4159 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4160 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4161 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4162
4163 @table @code
4164 @kindex step
4165 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4166 @item step
4167 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4168 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4169 abbreviated @code{s}.
4170
4171 @quotation
4172 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4173 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4174 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4175 @c distinction here.
4176 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4177 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4178 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4179 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4180 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4181 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4182 below.
4183 @end quotation
4184
4185 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4186 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4187 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4188 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4189 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4190 called within the line.
4191
4192 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4193 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4194 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4195 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4196 was any debugging information about the routine.
4197
4198 @item step @var{count}
4199 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4200 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4201 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4202
4203 @kindex next
4204 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4205 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4206 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4207 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4208 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4209 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4210 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4211 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4212
4213 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4214
4215
4216 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4217 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4218 @c
4219 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4220 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4221 @c function are executed without stopping.
4222
4223 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4224 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4225 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4226
4227 @kindex set step-mode
4228 @item set step-mode
4229 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4230 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4231 @itemx set step-mode on
4232 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4233 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4234 information rather than stepping over it.
4235
4236 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4237 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4238 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4239
4240 @item set step-mode off
4241 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4242 debug information. This is the default.
4243
4244 @item show step-mode
4245 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4246 source line debug information.
4247
4248 @kindex finish
4249 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4250 @item finish
4251 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4252 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4253 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4254
4255 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4256 ,Returning from a Function}).
4257
4258 @kindex until
4259 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4260 @cindex run until specified location
4261 @item until
4262 @itemx u
4263 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4264 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4265 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4266 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4267 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4268 than the address of the jump.
4269
4270 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4271 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4272 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4273 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4274 through the next iteration.
4275
4276 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4277 stack frame.
4278
4279 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4280 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4281 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4282 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4283 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4284
4285 @smallexample
4286 (@value{GDBP}) f
4287 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4288 206 expand_input();
4289 (@value{GDBP}) until
4290 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4291 @end smallexample
4292
4293 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4294 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4295 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4296 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4297 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4298 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4299 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4300
4301 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4302 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4303 argument.
4304
4305 @item until @var{location}
4306 @itemx u @var{location}
4307 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4308 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4309 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4310 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4311 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4312 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4313 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4314 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4315 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4316 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4317 invocations have returned.
4318
4319 @smallexample
4320 94 int factorial (int value)
4321 95 @{
4322 96 if (value > 1) @{
4323 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4324 98 @}
4325 99 return (value);
4326 100 @}
4327 @end smallexample
4328
4329
4330 @kindex advance @var{location}
4331 @itemx advance @var{location}
4332 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4333 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4334 @ref{Specify Location}.
4335 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4336 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4337 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4338 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4339
4340
4341 @kindex stepi
4342 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4343 @item stepi
4344 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4345 @itemx si
4346 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4347
4348 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4349 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4350 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4351 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4352
4353 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4354
4355 @need 750
4356 @kindex nexti
4357 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4358 @item nexti
4359 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4360 @itemx ni
4361 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4362 proceed until the function returns.
4363
4364 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4365 @end table
4366
4367 @node Signals
4368 @section Signals
4369 @cindex signals
4370
4371 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4372 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4373 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4374 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4375 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4376 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4377 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4378 requested an alarm).
4379
4380 @cindex fatal signals
4381 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4382 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4383 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4384 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4385 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4386 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4387
4388 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4389 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4390 signal.
4391
4392 @cindex handling signals
4393 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4394 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4395 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4396 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4397 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4398
4399 @table @code
4400 @kindex info signals
4401 @kindex info handle
4402 @item info signals
4403 @itemx info handle
4404 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4405 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4406 the defined types of signals.
4407
4408 @item info signals @var{sig}
4409 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4410
4411 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4412
4413 @kindex handle
4414 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4415 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4416 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4417 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4418 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4419 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4420 say what change to make.
4421 @end table
4422
4423 @c @group
4424 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4425 Their full names are:
4426
4427 @table @code
4428 @item nostop
4429 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4430 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4431
4432 @item stop
4433 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4434 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4435
4436 @item print
4437 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4438
4439 @item noprint
4440 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4441 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4442
4443 @item pass
4444 @itemx noignore
4445 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4446 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4447 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4448
4449 @item nopass
4450 @itemx ignore
4451 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4452 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4453 @end table
4454 @c @end group
4455
4456 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4457 program until you
4458 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4459 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4460 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4461 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4462 program sees that signal when you continue.
4463
4464 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4465 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4466 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4467 erroneous signals.
4468
4469 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4470 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4471 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4472 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4473 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4474 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4475 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4476 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4477 Program a Signal}.
4478
4479 @cindex extra signal information
4480 @anchor{extra signal information}
4481
4482 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4483 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4484 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4485 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4486 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4487 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4488 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4489 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4490 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4491 system header.
4492
4493 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4494 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4495
4496 @smallexample
4497 @group
4498 (@value{GDBP}) continue
4499 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
4500 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
4501 69 *(int *)p = 0;
4502 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4503 type = struct @{
4504 int si_signo;
4505 int si_errno;
4506 int si_code;
4507 union @{
4508 int _pad[28];
4509 struct @{...@} _kill;
4510 struct @{...@} _timer;
4511 struct @{...@} _rt;
4512 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4513 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4514 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4515 @} _sifields;
4516 @}
4517 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4518 type = struct @{
4519 void *si_addr;
4520 @}
4521 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4522 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4523 @end group
4524 @end smallexample
4525
4526 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4527
4528 @node Thread Stops
4529 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4530
4531 @cindex stopped threads
4532 @cindex threads, stopped
4533
4534 @cindex continuing threads
4535 @cindex threads, continuing
4536
4537 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4538 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4539 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4540 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4541 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4542 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4543 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4544 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4545 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4546
4547 @menu
4548 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4549 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4550 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4551 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4552 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4553 @end menu
4554
4555 @node All-Stop Mode
4556 @subsection All-Stop Mode
4557
4558 @cindex all-stop mode
4559
4560 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4561 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4562 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4563 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4564 underfoot.
4565
4566 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4567 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4568 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4569
4570 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4571 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
4572 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
4573 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
4574 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
4575 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
4576 stops.
4577
4578 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
4579 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
4580 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
4581 first thread completes whatever you requested.
4582
4583 @cindex automatic thread selection
4584 @cindex switching threads automatically
4585 @cindex threads, automatic switching
4586 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
4587 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
4588 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
4589 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
4590 thread.
4591
4592 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
4593 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
4594
4595 @table @code
4596 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
4597 @cindex scheduler locking mode
4598 @cindex lock scheduler
4599 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
4600 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
4601 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
4602 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
4603 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
4604 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
4605 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
4606 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
4607 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
4608 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
4609 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
4610 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
4611
4612 @item show scheduler-locking
4613 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
4614 @end table
4615
4616 @node Non-Stop Mode
4617 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
4618
4619 @cindex non-stop mode
4620
4621 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
4622 @c with more details.
4623
4624 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
4625 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
4626 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
4627 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
4628 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
4629 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
4630
4631 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
4632 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
4633 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
4634 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
4635 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
4636 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
4637 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
4638 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
4639 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
4640 independently and simultaneously.
4641
4642 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
4643 or attach to your program:
4644
4645 @smallexample
4646 # Enable the async interface.
4647 set target-async 1
4648
4649 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
4650 set pagination off
4651
4652 # Finally, turn it on!
4653 set non-stop on
4654 @end smallexample
4655
4656 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
4657
4658 @table @code
4659 @kindex set non-stop
4660 @item set non-stop on
4661 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
4662 @item set non-stop off
4663 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
4664 @kindex show non-stop
4665 @item show non-stop
4666 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
4667 @end table
4668
4669 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
4670 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
4671 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
4672 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
4673 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
4674 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
4675 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
4676 default.
4677
4678 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
4679 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
4680 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
4681
4682 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
4683 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
4684 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
4685 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
4686 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
4687
4688 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
4689 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
4690 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
4691 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
4692 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
4693
4694 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
4695
4696 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
4697 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
4698 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
4699 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
4700 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
4701 previously current thread.
4702
4703 @node Background Execution
4704 @subsection Background Execution
4705
4706 @cindex foreground execution
4707 @cindex background execution
4708 @cindex asynchronous execution
4709 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
4710
4711 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
4712 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
4713 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
4714 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
4715 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
4716 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
4717
4718 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
4719 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
4720 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
4721
4722 @table @code
4723 @kindex set target-async
4724 @item set target-async on
4725 Enable asynchronous mode.
4726 @item set target-async off
4727 Disable asynchronous mode.
4728 @kindex show target-async
4729 @item show target-async
4730 Show the current target-async setting.
4731 @end table
4732
4733 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
4734 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
4735
4736 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
4737 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
4738 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
4739 are:
4740
4741 @table @code
4742 @kindex run&
4743 @item run
4744 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
4745
4746 @item attach
4747 @kindex attach&
4748 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
4749
4750 @item step
4751 @kindex step&
4752 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
4753
4754 @item stepi
4755 @kindex stepi&
4756 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
4757
4758 @item next
4759 @kindex next&
4760 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
4761
4762 @item nexti
4763 @kindex nexti&
4764 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
4765
4766 @item continue
4767 @kindex continue&
4768 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
4769
4770 @item finish
4771 @kindex finish&
4772 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
4773
4774 @item until
4775 @kindex until&
4776 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
4777
4778 @end table
4779
4780 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
4781 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
4782 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
4783 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
4784 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
4785 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
4786
4787 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
4788 using the @code{interrupt} command.
4789
4790 @table @code
4791 @kindex interrupt
4792 @item interrupt
4793 @itemx interrupt -a
4794
4795 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
4796 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
4797 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
4798 use @code{interrupt -a}.
4799 @end table
4800
4801 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
4802 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
4803
4804 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
4805 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
4806 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
4807
4808 @table @code
4809 @cindex breakpoints and threads
4810 @cindex thread breakpoints
4811 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
4812 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
4813 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
4814 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
4815 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
4816 specify some source line.
4817
4818 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
4819 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
4820 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
4821 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
4822 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
4823
4824 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
4825 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
4826 program.
4827
4828 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
4829 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before the
4830 breakpoint condition, like this:
4831
4832 @smallexample
4833 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
4834 @end smallexample
4835
4836 @end table
4837
4838 @node Interrupted System Calls
4839 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
4840
4841 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
4842 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
4843 @cindex premature return from system calls
4844 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
4845 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
4846 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
4847 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
4848 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
4849 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
4850 stop execution.
4851
4852 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
4853 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
4854 style anyways.
4855
4856 For example, do not write code like this:
4857
4858 @smallexample
4859 sleep (10);
4860 @end smallexample
4861
4862 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
4863 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
4864
4865 Instead, write this:
4866
4867 @smallexample
4868 int unslept = 10;
4869 while (unslept > 0)
4870 unslept = sleep (unslept);
4871 @end smallexample
4872
4873 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
4874 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
4875 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
4876 @value{GDBN}.
4877
4878 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
4879 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
4880 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
4881 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
4882
4883
4884 @node Reverse Execution
4885 @chapter Running programs backward
4886 @cindex reverse execution
4887 @cindex running programs backward
4888
4889 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
4890 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
4891 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
4892 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
4893
4894 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
4895 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
4896 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
4897 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
4898 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
4899 all target environments can support reverse execution.
4900
4901 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
4902 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
4903 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
4904 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
4905 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
4906 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
4907 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
4908 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
4909 prior values@footnote{
4910 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
4911 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
4912 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
4913
4914 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
4915 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
4916 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
4917 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
4918 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
4919 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
4920 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
4921 }.
4922
4923 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
4924 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
4925
4926 @table @code
4927 @kindex reverse-continue
4928 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
4929 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4930 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4931 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
4932 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
4933 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
4934 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
4935
4936 @kindex reverse-step
4937 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
4938 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4939 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
4940 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
4941
4942 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
4943 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
4944 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
4945 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
4946 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
4947 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
4948
4949 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
4950 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
4951
4952 @kindex reverse-stepi
4953 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
4954 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4955 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
4956 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
4957 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
4958 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
4959 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
4960
4961 @kindex reverse-next
4962 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
4963 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4964 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
4965 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
4966 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
4967 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
4968 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
4969 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
4970 line of a function back to its return to its caller
4971 @footnote{Unles the code is too heavily optimized.}.
4972
4973 @kindex reverse-nexti
4974 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
4975 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4976 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
4977 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
4978 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
4979 another instruction, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
4980 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
4981 frame) is reached.
4982
4983 @kindex reverse-finish
4984 @item reverse-finish
4985 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
4986 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
4987 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
4988 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
4989
4990 @kindex set exec-direction
4991 @item set exec-direction
4992 Set the direction of target execution.
4993 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
4994 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
4995 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
4996 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
4997 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
4998 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
4999 @item set exec-direction forward
5000 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5001 This is the default.
5002 @end table
5003
5004
5005 @node Stack
5006 @chapter Examining the Stack
5007
5008 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5009 stopped and how it got there.
5010
5011 @cindex call stack
5012 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5013 is generated.
5014 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5015 the arguments of the call,
5016 and the local variables of the function being called.
5017 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5018 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5019 stack}.
5020
5021 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5022 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5023
5024 @cindex selected frame
5025 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5026 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5027 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5028 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5029 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5030 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5031
5032 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5033 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5034 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5035
5036 @menu
5037 * Frames:: Stack frames
5038 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5039 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5040 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5041
5042 @end menu
5043
5044 @node Frames
5045 @section Stack Frames
5046
5047 @cindex frame, definition
5048 @cindex stack frame
5049 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5050 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5051 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5052 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5053 which the function is executing.
5054
5055 @cindex initial frame
5056 @cindex outermost frame
5057 @cindex innermost frame
5058 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5059 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5060 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5061 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5062 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5063 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5064 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5065 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5066
5067 @cindex frame pointer
5068 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5069 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5070 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5071 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5072 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5073 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5074
5075 @cindex frame number
5076 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5077 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5078 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5079 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5080 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5081
5082 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5083 @c underflow problems.
5084 @cindex frameless execution
5085 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5086 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5087 @smallexample
5088 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5089 @end smallexample
5090 generates functions without a frame.)
5091 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5092 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5093 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5094 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5095 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5096 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5097 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5098
5099 @table @code
5100 @kindex frame@r{, command}
5101 @cindex current stack frame
5102 @item frame @var{args}
5103 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5104 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5105 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5106 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5107
5108 @kindex select-frame
5109 @cindex selecting frame silently
5110 @item select-frame
5111 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5112 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5113 @code{frame}.
5114 @end table
5115
5116 @node Backtrace
5117 @section Backtraces
5118
5119 @cindex traceback
5120 @cindex call stack traces
5121 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5122 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5123 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5124 stack.
5125
5126 @table @code
5127 @kindex backtrace
5128 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5129 @item backtrace
5130 @itemx bt
5131 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5132 frames in the stack.
5133
5134 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5135 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5136
5137 @item backtrace @var{n}
5138 @itemx bt @var{n}
5139 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5140
5141 @item backtrace -@var{n}
5142 @itemx bt -@var{n}
5143 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5144
5145 @item backtrace full
5146 @itemx bt full
5147 @itemx bt full @var{n}
5148 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
5149 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5150 number of frames to print, as described above.
5151 @end table
5152
5153 @kindex where
5154 @kindex info stack
5155 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5156 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5157
5158 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5159 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5160 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5161 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5162 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5163 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5164 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5165 multi-threaded program.
5166
5167 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5168 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5169 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5170 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5171 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5172 line number.
5173
5174 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5175 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5176
5177 @smallexample
5178 @group
5179 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5180 at builtin.c:993
5181 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5182 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5183 at macro.c:71
5184 (More stack frames follow...)
5185 @end group
5186 @end smallexample
5187
5188 @noindent
5189 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5190 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5191 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5192
5193 @noindent
5194 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5195 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5196 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5197 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5198 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5199
5200 @cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5201 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5202 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5203 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5204 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5205 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5206 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5207 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5208 such a backtrace might look like:
5209
5210 @smallexample
5211 @group
5212 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5213 at builtin.c:993
5214 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5215 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5216 at macro.c:71
5217 (More stack frames follow...)
5218 @end group
5219 @end smallexample
5220
5221 @noindent
5222 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5223 shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5224
5225 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5226 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5227 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5228
5229 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5230 @cindex program entry point
5231 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
5232 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5233 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5234 @code{main}@footnote{
5235 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5236 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5237 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5238 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5239 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5240 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5241
5242 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5243 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5244
5245 @table @code
5246 @item set backtrace past-main
5247 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
5248 @kindex set backtrace
5249 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
5250
5251 @item set backtrace past-main off
5252 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
5253 default.
5254
5255 @item show backtrace past-main
5256 @kindex show backtrace
5257 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
5258
5259 @item set backtrace past-entry
5260 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
5261 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
5262 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
5263 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
5264
5265 @item set backtrace past-entry off
5266 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
5267 application. This is the default.
5268
5269 @item show backtrace past-entry
5270 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
5271
5272 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
5273 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
5274 @cindex backtrace limit
5275 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
5276 unlimited.
5277
5278 @item show backtrace limit
5279 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
5280 @end table
5281
5282 @node Selection
5283 @section Selecting a Frame
5284
5285 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
5286 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
5287 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
5288 of the stack frame just selected.
5289
5290 @table @code
5291 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
5292 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
5293 @item frame @var{n}
5294 @itemx f @var{n}
5295 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
5296 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
5297 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
5298 @code{main}.
5299
5300 @item frame @var{addr}
5301 @itemx f @var{addr}
5302 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
5303 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
5304 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
5305 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
5306 switches between them.
5307
5308 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
5309 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
5310
5311 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
5312 pointer and a program counter.
5313
5314 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
5315 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
5316
5317 @kindex up
5318 @item up @var{n}
5319 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5320 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
5321 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
5322
5323 @kindex down
5324 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
5325 @item down @var{n}
5326 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5327 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
5328 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
5329 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
5330 @end table
5331
5332 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
5333 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
5334 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
5335 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
5336
5337 @need 1000
5338 For example:
5339
5340 @smallexample
5341 @group
5342 (@value{GDBP}) up
5343 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
5344 at env.c:10
5345 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
5346 @end group
5347 @end smallexample
5348
5349 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
5350 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
5351 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
5352 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
5353 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
5354 for details.
5355
5356 @table @code
5357 @kindex down-silently
5358 @kindex up-silently
5359 @item up-silently @var{n}
5360 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
5361 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
5362 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
5363 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
5364 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
5365 distracting.
5366 @end table
5367
5368 @node Frame Info
5369 @section Information About a Frame
5370
5371 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
5372 stack frame.
5373
5374 @table @code
5375 @item frame
5376 @itemx f
5377 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
5378 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
5379 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
5380 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
5381 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5382
5383 @kindex info frame
5384 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
5385 @item info frame
5386 @itemx info f
5387 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
5388 including:
5389
5390 @itemize @bullet
5391 @item
5392 the address of the frame
5393 @item
5394 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
5395 @item
5396 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
5397 @item
5398 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
5399 @item
5400 the address of the frame's arguments
5401 @item
5402 the address of the frame's local variables
5403 @item
5404 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
5405 @item
5406 which registers were saved in the frame
5407 @end itemize
5408
5409 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
5410 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
5411 the usual conventions.
5412
5413 @item info frame @var{addr}
5414 @itemx info f @var{addr}
5415 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
5416 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
5417 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
5418 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
5419 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5420
5421 @kindex info args
5422 @item info args
5423 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
5424
5425 @item info locals
5426 @kindex info locals
5427 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
5428 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
5429 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
5430
5431 @kindex info catch
5432 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
5433 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
5434 @item info catch
5435 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
5436 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
5437 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
5438 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
5439 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
5440
5441 @end table
5442
5443
5444 @node Source
5445 @chapter Examining Source Files
5446
5447 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
5448 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
5449 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
5450 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
5451 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
5452 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
5453 source files by explicit command.
5454
5455 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
5456 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
5457 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
5458
5459 @menu
5460 * List:: Printing source lines
5461 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
5462 * Edit:: Editing source files
5463 * Search:: Searching source files
5464 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
5465 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
5466 @end menu
5467
5468 @node List
5469 @section Printing Source Lines
5470
5471 @kindex list
5472 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
5473 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
5474 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
5475 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
5476 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
5477
5478 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
5479
5480 @table @code
5481 @item list @var{linenum}
5482 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
5483 current source file.
5484
5485 @item list @var{function}
5486 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
5487 @var{function}.
5488
5489 @item list
5490 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
5491 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
5492 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
5493 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
5494 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
5495
5496 @item list -
5497 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
5498 @end table
5499
5500 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
5501 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
5502 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
5503
5504 @table @code
5505 @kindex set listsize
5506 @item set listsize @var{count}
5507 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
5508 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
5509
5510 @kindex show listsize
5511 @item show listsize
5512 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
5513 @end table
5514
5515 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
5516 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
5517 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
5518 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
5519 each repetition moves up in the source file.
5520
5521 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
5522 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
5523 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
5524 to specify some source line.
5525
5526 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
5527
5528 @table @code
5529 @item list @var{linespec}
5530 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
5531
5532 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
5533 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
5534 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
5535 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
5536 the same source file as the first linespec.
5537
5538 @item list ,@var{last}
5539 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
5540
5541 @item list @var{first},
5542 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
5543
5544 @item list +
5545 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
5546
5547 @item list -
5548 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
5549
5550 @item list
5551 As described in the preceding table.
5552 @end table
5553
5554 @node Specify Location
5555 @section Specifying a Location
5556 @cindex specifying location
5557 @cindex linespec
5558
5559 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
5560 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
5561 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
5562 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
5563
5564 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
5565 @value{GDBN} understands:
5566
5567 @table @code
5568 @item @var{linenum}
5569 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
5570
5571 @item -@var{offset}
5572 @itemx +@var{offset}
5573 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
5574 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
5575 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
5576 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
5577 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
5578 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
5579 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
5580 linespec.
5581
5582 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
5583 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
5584
5585 @item @var{function}
5586 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
5587 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
5588
5589 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
5590 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
5591 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
5592 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
5593 functions in different source files.
5594
5595 @item *@var{address}
5596 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
5597 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
5598 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
5599 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
5600 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
5601 source files.
5602
5603 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
5604 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
5605 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
5606 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
5607 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
5608 of @var{address}:
5609
5610 @table @code
5611 @item @var{expression}
5612 Any expression valid in the current working language.
5613
5614 @item @var{funcaddr}
5615 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
5616 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
5617 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
5618 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
5619 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
5620 (although the Pascal form also works).
5621
5622 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
5623 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
5624
5625 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
5626 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
5627 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
5628 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
5629 functions with identical names in different source files.
5630 @end table
5631
5632 @end table
5633
5634
5635 @node Edit
5636 @section Editing Source Files
5637 @cindex editing source files
5638
5639 @kindex edit
5640 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
5641 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
5642 The editing program of your choice
5643 is invoked with the current line set to
5644 the active line in the program.
5645 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
5646 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
5647
5648 @table @code
5649 @item edit @var{location}
5650 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
5651 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
5652 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
5653 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
5654 command most commonly used:
5655
5656 @table @code
5657 @item edit @var{number}
5658 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
5659
5660 @item edit @var{function}
5661 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
5662 @end table
5663
5664 @end table
5665
5666 @subsection Choosing your Editor
5667 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
5668 @footnote{
5669 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
5670 following command-line syntax:
5671 @smallexample
5672 ex +@var{number} file
5673 @end smallexample
5674 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
5675 the file where to start editing.}.
5676 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
5677 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
5678 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
5679 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
5680 @smallexample
5681 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
5682 export EDITOR
5683 gdb @dots{}
5684 @end smallexample
5685 or in the @code{csh} shell,
5686 @smallexample
5687 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
5688 gdb @dots{}
5689 @end smallexample
5690
5691 @node Search
5692 @section Searching Source Files
5693 @cindex searching source files
5694
5695 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
5696 regular expression.
5697
5698 @table @code
5699 @kindex search
5700 @kindex forward-search
5701 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
5702 @itemx search @var{regexp}
5703 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
5704 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
5705 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
5706 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
5707 @code{fo}.
5708
5709 @kindex reverse-search
5710 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
5711 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
5712 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
5713 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
5714 this command as @code{rev}.
5715 @end table
5716
5717 @node Source Path
5718 @section Specifying Source Directories
5719
5720 @cindex source path
5721 @cindex directories for source files
5722 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
5723 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
5724 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
5725 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
5726 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
5727 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
5728 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
5729
5730 For example, suppose an executable references the file
5731 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
5732 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
5733 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
5734 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
5735 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
5736 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
5737 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
5738 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
5739 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
5740 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
5741
5742 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
5743 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
5744 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
5745 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
5746 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
5747 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
5748
5749 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
5750 source files.
5751
5752 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
5753 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
5754 each line is in the file.
5755
5756 @kindex directory
5757 @kindex dir
5758 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
5759 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
5760 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
5761
5762 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
5763 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
5764
5765 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
5766 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
5767 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
5768 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
5769 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
5770 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
5771 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
5772 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
5773 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
5774 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
5775 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
5776 name to look up the sources.
5777
5778 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
5779 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
5780 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
5781 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
5782 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
5783 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
5784 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
5785 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
5786
5787 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
5788 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
5789 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
5790 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
5791 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
5792 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
5793 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
5794
5795 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
5796 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
5797 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
5798 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
5799 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
5800 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
5801 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
5802 command.
5803
5804 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
5805 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
5806 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
5807 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
5808 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
5809 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
5810 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
5811
5812 @table @code
5813 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
5814 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
5815 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
5816 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
5817 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
5818 part of absolute file names) or
5819 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
5820 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
5821
5822 @kindex cdir
5823 @kindex cwd
5824 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
5825 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
5826 @cindex compilation directory
5827 @cindex current directory
5828 @cindex working directory
5829 @cindex directory, current
5830 @cindex directory, compilation
5831 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
5832 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
5833 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
5834 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
5835 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
5836 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
5837
5838 @item directory
5839 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
5840
5841 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
5842 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
5843
5844 @item show directories
5845 @kindex show directories
5846 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
5847
5848 @anchor{set substitute-path}
5849 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
5850 @kindex set substitute-path
5851 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
5852 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
5853 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
5854
5855 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
5856 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
5857
5858 @smallexample
5859 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
5860 @end smallexample
5861
5862 @noindent
5863 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
5864 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
5865 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
5866
5867 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
5868 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
5869 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
5870 the substitution.
5871
5872 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
5873
5874 @smallexample
5875 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
5876 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
5877 @end smallexample
5878
5879 @noindent
5880 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
5881 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
5882 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
5883 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
5884
5885
5886 @item unset substitute-path [path]
5887 @kindex unset substitute-path
5888 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
5889 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
5890 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
5891
5892 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
5893
5894 @item show substitute-path [path]
5895 @kindex show substitute-path
5896 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
5897 which would rewrite that path, if any.
5898
5899 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
5900 rules.
5901
5902 @end table
5903
5904 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
5905 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
5906 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
5907
5908 @enumerate
5909 @item
5910 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
5911
5912 @item
5913 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
5914 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
5915 directories in one command.
5916 @end enumerate
5917
5918 @node Machine Code
5919 @section Source and Machine Code
5920 @cindex source line and its code address
5921
5922 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
5923 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
5924 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
5925 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
5926 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
5927 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
5928 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
5929 well as hex.
5930
5931 @table @code
5932 @kindex info line
5933 @item info line @var{linespec}
5934 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
5935 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
5936 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
5937 @end table
5938
5939 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
5940 the object code for the first line of function
5941 @code{m4_changequote}:
5942
5943 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
5944 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
5945 @smallexample
5946 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
5947 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
5948 @end smallexample
5949
5950 @noindent
5951 @cindex code address and its source line
5952 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
5953 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
5954 @smallexample
5955 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
5956 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
5957 @end smallexample
5958
5959 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
5960 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
5961 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
5962 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
5963 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
5964 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
5965 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
5966 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
5967 Variables}).
5968
5969 @table @code
5970 @kindex disassemble
5971 @cindex assembly instructions
5972 @cindex instructions, assembly
5973 @cindex machine instructions
5974 @cindex listing machine instructions
5975 @item disassemble
5976 @itemx disassemble /m
5977 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
5978 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
5979 the @code{/m} modifier.
5980 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
5981 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
5982 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
5983 surrounding this value. Two arguments specify a range of addresses
5984 (first inclusive, second exclusive) to dump.
5985 @end table
5986
5987 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
5988 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
5989
5990 @smallexample
5991 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4 0x32e4
5992 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
5993 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
5994 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
5995 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
5996 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
5997 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
5998 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
5999 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6000 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6001 End of assembler dump.
6002 @end smallexample
6003
6004 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86:
6005
6006 @smallexample
6007 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6008 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6009 5 @{
6010 0x08048330 <main+0>: push %ebp
6011 0x08048331 <main+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6012 0x08048333 <main+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6013 0x08048336 <main+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6014 0x08048339 <main+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6015
6016 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6017 0x0804833c <main+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6018 0x08048343 <main+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6019
6020 7 return 0;
6021 8 @}
6022 0x08048348 <main+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6023 0x0804834d <main+29>: leave
6024 0x0804834e <main+30>: ret
6025
6026 End of assembler dump.
6027 @end smallexample
6028
6029 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6030 mnemonics or other syntax.
6031
6032 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6033 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6034 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6035 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6036 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6037
6038 @table @code
6039 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
6040 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6041 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6042 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6043 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6044 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6045
6046 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6047 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6048 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6049 assemblers for x86-based targets.
6050
6051 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
6052 @item show disassembly-flavor
6053 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6054 @end table
6055
6056 @table @code
6057 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
6058 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
6059 @item set disassemble-next-line
6060 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
6061 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble next source line
6062 when execution stops. If ON, GDB will display disassembly of the next
6063 source line when execution of the program being debugged stops.
6064 If AUTO (which is the default), or there's no line info to determine
6065 the source line of the next instruction, display disassembly of next
6066 instruction instead.
6067 @end table
6068
6069
6070 @node Data
6071 @chapter Examining Data
6072
6073 @cindex printing data
6074 @cindex examining data
6075 @kindex print
6076 @kindex inspect
6077 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6078 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6079 @c different window or something like that.
6080 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6081 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6082 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6083 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6084 Different Languages}).
6085
6086 @table @code
6087 @item print @var{expr}
6088 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6089 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6090 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6091 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6092 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6093 Formats}.
6094
6095 @item print
6096 @itemx print /@var{f}
6097 @cindex reprint the last value
6098 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6099 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6100 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6101 @end table
6102
6103 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6104 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6105 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6106
6107 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6108 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6109 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6110 Table}.
6111
6112 @menu
6113 * Expressions:: Expressions
6114 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6115 * Variables:: Program variables
6116 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6117 * Output Formats:: Output formats
6118 * Memory:: Examining memory
6119 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
6120 * Print Settings:: Print settings
6121 * Value History:: Value history
6122 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6123 * Registers:: Registers
6124 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6125 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6126 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6127 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6128 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6129 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6130 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6131 character set than GDB does
6132 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6133 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6134 @end menu
6135
6136 @node Expressions
6137 @section Expressions
6138
6139 @cindex expressions
6140 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6141 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6142 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6143 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6144 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6145 you compiled your program to include this information; see
6146 @ref{Compilation}.
6147
6148 @cindex arrays in expressions
6149 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6150 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6151 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6152 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6153 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6154 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6155
6156 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6157 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6158 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6159 languages.
6160
6161 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6162 expressions regardless of your programming language.
6163
6164 @cindex casts, in expressions
6165 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6166 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6167 at that address in memory.
6168 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6169
6170 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6171 to programming languages:
6172
6173 @table @code
6174 @item @@
6175 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6176 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6177
6178 @item ::
6179 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6180 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6181
6182 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
6183 @cindex type casting memory
6184 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
6185 @cindex casts, to view memory
6186 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
6187 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
6188 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
6189 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
6190 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
6191 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
6192 @end table
6193
6194 @node Ambiguous Expressions
6195 @section Ambiguous Expressions
6196 @cindex ambiguous expressions
6197
6198 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
6199 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
6200 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
6201 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
6202 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
6203 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
6204 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
6205
6206 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
6207 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
6208 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
6209 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
6210 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
6211 as well.
6212
6213 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
6214 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
6215 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
6216 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
6217 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
6218 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
6219 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
6220 choices.
6221
6222 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
6223 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
6224 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
6225
6226 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
6227 @smallexample
6228 @group
6229 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
6230 [0] cancel
6231 [1] all
6232 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
6233 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
6234 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
6235 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
6236 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
6237 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
6238 > 2 4 6
6239 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
6240 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
6241 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
6242 Multiple breakpoints were set.
6243 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
6244 breakpoints.
6245 (@value{GDBP})
6246 @end group
6247 @end smallexample
6248
6249 @table @code
6250 @kindex set multiple-symbols
6251 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
6252 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
6253
6254 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
6255 is ambiguous.
6256
6257 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
6258 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
6259 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
6260 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
6261 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
6262 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
6263 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
6264 in the use of the menu.
6265
6266 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
6267 when an ambiguity is detected.
6268
6269 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
6270 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
6271
6272 @kindex show multiple-symbols
6273 @item show multiple-symbols
6274 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
6275 @end table
6276
6277 @node Variables
6278 @section Program Variables
6279
6280 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
6281 in your program.
6282
6283 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
6284 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
6285
6286 @itemize @bullet
6287 @item
6288 global (or file-static)
6289 @end itemize
6290
6291 @noindent or
6292
6293 @itemize @bullet
6294 @item
6295 visible according to the scope rules of the
6296 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
6297 @end itemize
6298
6299 @noindent This means that in the function
6300
6301 @smallexample
6302 foo (a)
6303 int a;
6304 @{
6305 bar (a);
6306 @{
6307 int b = test ();
6308 bar (b);
6309 @}
6310 @}
6311 @end smallexample
6312
6313 @noindent
6314 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
6315 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
6316 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
6317 the block where @code{b} is declared.
6318
6319 @cindex variable name conflict
6320 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
6321 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
6322 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
6323 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
6324 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
6325 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
6326 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
6327
6328 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
6329 @ifnotinfo
6330 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
6331 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
6332 @end ifnotinfo
6333 @smallexample
6334 @var{file}::@var{variable}
6335 @var{function}::@var{variable}
6336 @end smallexample
6337
6338 @noindent
6339 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
6340 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
6341 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
6342 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
6343
6344 @smallexample
6345 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
6346 @end smallexample
6347
6348 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
6349 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
6350 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
6351 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
6352 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
6353 @c conflict?? --mew
6354
6355 @cindex wrong values
6356 @cindex variable values, wrong
6357 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
6358 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
6359 @quotation
6360 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
6361 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
6362 scope, and just before exit.
6363 @end quotation
6364 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
6365 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
6366 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
6367 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
6368 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
6369 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
6370 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
6371 variable definitions may be gone.
6372
6373 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
6374 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
6375 when compiling.
6376
6377 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
6378 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
6379 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
6380 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
6381 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
6382 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
6383 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
6384
6385 @smallexample
6386 No symbol "foo" in current context.
6387 @end smallexample
6388
6389 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
6390 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
6391 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
6392 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
6393 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
6394 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
6395 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
6396 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
6397 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
6398 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
6399 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
6400
6401 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
6402 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
6403 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
6404 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
6405
6406 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
6407 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
6408 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
6409 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
6410 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
6411 For program code
6412
6413 @smallexample
6414 char var0[] = "A";
6415 signed char var1[] = "A";
6416 @end smallexample
6417
6418 You get during debugging
6419 @smallexample
6420 (gdb) print var0
6421 $1 = "A"
6422 (gdb) print var1
6423 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
6424 @end smallexample
6425
6426 @node Arrays
6427 @section Artificial Arrays
6428
6429 @cindex artificial array
6430 @cindex arrays
6431 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
6432 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
6433 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
6434 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
6435 program.
6436
6437 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
6438 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
6439 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
6440 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
6441 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
6442 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
6443 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
6444 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
6445 example. If a program says
6446
6447 @smallexample
6448 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
6449 @end smallexample
6450
6451 @noindent
6452 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
6453
6454 @smallexample
6455 p *array@@len
6456 @end smallexample
6457
6458 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
6459 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
6460 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
6461 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
6462 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
6463
6464 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
6465 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
6466 The value need not be in memory:
6467 @smallexample
6468 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
6469 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
6470 @end smallexample
6471
6472 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
6473 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
6474 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
6475 @smallexample
6476 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
6477 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
6478 @end smallexample
6479
6480 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
6481 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
6482 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
6483 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
6484 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6485 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
6486 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
6487 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
6488 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
6489 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
6490
6491 @smallexample
6492 set $i = 0
6493 p dtab[$i++]->fv
6494 @key{RET}
6495 @key{RET}
6496 @dots{}
6497 @end smallexample
6498
6499 @node Output Formats
6500 @section Output Formats
6501
6502 @cindex formatted output
6503 @cindex output formats
6504 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
6505 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
6506 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
6507 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
6508 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
6509
6510 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
6511 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
6512 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
6513 letters supported are:
6514
6515 @table @code
6516 @item x
6517 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
6518 hexadecimal.
6519
6520 @item d
6521 Print as integer in signed decimal.
6522
6523 @item u
6524 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
6525
6526 @item o
6527 Print as integer in octal.
6528
6529 @item t
6530 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
6531 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
6532 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
6533 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
6534
6535 @item a
6536 @cindex unknown address, locating
6537 @cindex locate address
6538 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
6539 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
6540 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
6541
6542 @smallexample
6543 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
6544 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
6545 @end smallexample
6546
6547 @noindent
6548 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
6549 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
6550
6551 @item c
6552 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
6553 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
6554 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
6555 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
6556
6557 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
6558 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
6559 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
6560 data.
6561
6562 @item f
6563 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
6564 using typical floating point syntax.
6565
6566 @item s
6567 @cindex printing strings
6568 @cindex printing byte arrays
6569 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
6570 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
6571 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
6572 natural types.
6573
6574 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
6575 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
6576 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
6577 array.
6578 @end table
6579
6580 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
6581
6582 @smallexample
6583 p/x $pc
6584 @end smallexample
6585
6586 @noindent
6587 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
6588 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
6589
6590 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
6591 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
6592 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
6593
6594 @node Memory
6595 @section Examining Memory
6596
6597 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
6598 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
6599
6600 @cindex examining memory
6601 @table @code
6602 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
6603 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
6604 @itemx x @var{addr}
6605 @itemx x
6606 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
6607 @end table
6608
6609 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
6610 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
6611 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
6612 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
6613 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
6614
6615 @table @r
6616 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
6617 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
6618 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
6619 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
6620 @c 4.1.2.
6621
6622 @item @var{f}, the display format
6623 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
6624 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
6625 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
6626 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
6627 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
6628
6629 @item @var{u}, the unit size
6630 The unit size is any of
6631
6632 @table @code
6633 @item b
6634 Bytes.
6635 @item h
6636 Halfwords (two bytes).
6637 @item w
6638 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
6639 @item g
6640 Giant words (eight bytes).
6641 @end table
6642
6643 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
6644 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. (For the @samp{s} and
6645 @samp{i} formats, the unit size is ignored and is normally not written.)
6646
6647 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
6648 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
6649 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
6650 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
6651 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
6652 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
6653 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
6654 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
6655 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
6656 a value from memory).
6657 @end table
6658
6659 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
6660 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
6661 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
6662 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
6663 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
6664
6665 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
6666 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
6667 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
6668 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
6669 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
6670
6671 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
6672 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
6673 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
6674 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
6675 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
6676 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
6677 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
6678 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
6679 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
6680
6681 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
6682 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
6683 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
6684 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
6685 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
6686 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
6687 for successive uses of @code{x}.
6688
6689 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
6690 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
6691 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
6692 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
6693 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
6694 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
6695 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
6696 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
6697 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
6698
6699 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
6700 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
6701 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
6702
6703 @cindex remote memory comparison
6704 @cindex verify remote memory image
6705 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
6706 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
6707 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
6708 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
6709 situations.
6710
6711 @table @code
6712 @kindex compare-sections
6713 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
6714 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
6715 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
6716 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
6717 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
6718 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
6719 remote request.
6720 @end table
6721
6722 @node Auto Display
6723 @section Automatic Display
6724 @cindex automatic display
6725 @cindex display of expressions
6726
6727 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
6728 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
6729 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
6730 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
6731 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
6732 The automatic display looks like this:
6733
6734 @smallexample
6735 2: foo = 38
6736 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
6737 @end smallexample
6738
6739 @noindent
6740 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
6741 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
6742 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
6743 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
6744 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
6745 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
6746
6747 @table @code
6748 @kindex display
6749 @item display @var{expr}
6750 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
6751 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
6752
6753 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
6754
6755 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
6756 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
6757 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
6758 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
6759 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
6760
6761 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
6762 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
6763 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
6764 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
6765 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6766 @end table
6767
6768 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
6769 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
6770 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
6771
6772 @table @code
6773 @kindex delete display
6774 @kindex undisplay
6775 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
6776 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
6777 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
6778
6779 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
6780 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
6781
6782 @kindex disable display
6783 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
6784 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
6785 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
6786 enabled again later.
6787
6788 @kindex enable display
6789 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
6790 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
6791 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
6792
6793 @item display
6794 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
6795 done when your program stops.
6796
6797 @kindex info display
6798 @item info display
6799 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
6800 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
6801 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
6802 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
6803 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
6804 @end table
6805
6806 @cindex display disabled out of scope
6807 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
6808 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
6809 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
6810 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
6811 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
6812 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
6813 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
6814 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
6815 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
6816 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
6817
6818 @node Print Settings
6819 @section Print Settings
6820
6821 @cindex format options
6822 @cindex print settings
6823 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
6824 and symbols are printed.
6825
6826 @noindent
6827 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
6828
6829 @table @code
6830 @kindex set print
6831 @item set print address
6832 @itemx set print address on
6833 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
6834 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
6835 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
6836 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
6837 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
6838 @code{set print address on}:
6839
6840 @smallexample
6841 @group
6842 (@value{GDBP}) f
6843 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
6844 at input.c:530
6845 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
6846 @end group
6847 @end smallexample
6848
6849 @item set print address off
6850 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
6851 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
6852
6853 @smallexample
6854 @group
6855 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
6856 (@value{GDBP}) f
6857 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
6858 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
6859 @end group
6860 @end smallexample
6861
6862 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
6863 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
6864 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
6865 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
6866
6867 @kindex show print
6868 @item show print address
6869 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
6870 @end table
6871
6872 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
6873 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
6874 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
6875 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
6876 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
6877 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
6878 it prints a symbolic address:
6879
6880 @table @code
6881 @item set print symbol-filename on
6882 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
6883 @cindex symbol, source file and line
6884 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
6885 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
6886
6887 @item set print symbol-filename off
6888 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
6889 default.
6890
6891 @item show print symbol-filename
6892 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
6893 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
6894 @end table
6895
6896 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
6897 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
6898 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
6899
6900 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
6901 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
6902
6903 @table @code
6904 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
6905 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
6906 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
6907 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
6908 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
6909 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
6910
6911 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
6912 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
6913 symbolic address.
6914 @end table
6915
6916 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
6917 @cindex pointer, finding referent
6918 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
6919 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
6920 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
6921 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
6922 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
6923 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
6924
6925 @smallexample
6926 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
6927 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
6928 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
6929 @end smallexample
6930
6931 @quotation
6932 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
6933 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
6934 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
6935 @end quotation
6936
6937 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
6938
6939 @table @code
6940 @item set print array
6941 @itemx set print array on
6942 @cindex pretty print arrays
6943 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
6944 but uses more space. The default is off.
6945
6946 @item set print array off
6947 Return to compressed format for arrays.
6948
6949 @item show print array
6950 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
6951 arrays.
6952
6953 @cindex print array indexes
6954 @item set print array-indexes
6955 @itemx set print array-indexes on
6956 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
6957 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
6958 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
6959
6960 @item set print array-indexes off
6961 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
6962
6963 @item show print array-indexes
6964 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
6965 arrays.
6966
6967 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
6968 @cindex number of array elements to print
6969 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
6970 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
6971 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
6972 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
6973 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
6974 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
6975 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
6976
6977 @item show print elements
6978 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
6979 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
6980
6981 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
6982 @kindex set print frame-arguments
6983 @cindex printing frame argument values
6984 @cindex print all frame argument values
6985 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
6986 @cindex do not print frame argument values
6987 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
6988 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
6989 values are:
6990
6991 @table @code
6992 @item all
6993 The values of all arguments are printed.
6994
6995 @item scalars
6996 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
6997 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
6998 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
6999 only scalar arguments are shown:
7000
7001 @smallexample
7002 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7003 at frame-args.c:23
7004 @end smallexample
7005
7006 @item none
7007 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7008 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7009
7010 @smallexample
7011 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7012 at frame-args.c:23
7013 @end smallexample
7014 @end table
7015
7016 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7017 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7018 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7019 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7020 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7021 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7022 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7023 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7024 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7025 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7026
7027 @item show print frame-arguments
7028 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7029
7030 @item set print repeats
7031 @cindex repeated array elements
7032 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7033 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7034 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7035 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7036 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7037 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7038 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7039
7040 @item show print repeats
7041 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7042 elements.
7043
7044 @item set print null-stop
7045 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7046 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7047 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7048 contain only short strings.
7049 The default is off.
7050
7051 @item show print null-stop
7052 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7053 @sc{null} character.
7054
7055 @item set print pretty on
7056 @cindex print structures in indented form
7057 @cindex indentation in structure display
7058 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7059 per line, like this:
7060
7061 @smallexample
7062 @group
7063 $1 = @{
7064 next = 0x0,
7065 flags = @{
7066 sweet = 1,
7067 sour = 1
7068 @},
7069 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7070 @}
7071 @end group
7072 @end smallexample
7073
7074 @item set print pretty off
7075 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7076
7077 @smallexample
7078 @group
7079 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7080 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7081 @end group
7082 @end smallexample
7083
7084 @noindent
7085 This is the default format.
7086
7087 @item show print pretty
7088 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7089
7090 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
7091 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7092 @cindex octal escapes in strings
7093 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7094 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7095 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7096 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7097 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7098
7099 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
7100 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7101 international character sets, and is the default.
7102
7103 @item show print sevenbit-strings
7104 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7105
7106 @item set print union on
7107 @cindex unions in structures, printing
7108 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7109 and other unions. This is the default setting.
7110
7111 @item set print union off
7112 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7113 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7114 instead.
7115
7116 @item show print union
7117 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7118 structures and other unions.
7119
7120 For example, given the declarations
7121
7122 @smallexample
7123 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7124 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7125 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7126 Bug_forms;
7127
7128 struct thing @{
7129 Species it;
7130 union @{
7131 Tree_forms tree;
7132 Bug_forms bug;
7133 @} form;
7134 @};
7135
7136 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7137 @end smallexample
7138
7139 @noindent
7140 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7141
7142 @smallexample
7143 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7144 @end smallexample
7145
7146 @noindent
7147 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7148
7149 @smallexample
7150 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7151 @end smallexample
7152
7153 @noindent
7154 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7155 and in Pascal.
7156 @end table
7157
7158 @need 1000
7159 @noindent
7160 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
7161
7162 @table @code
7163 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
7164 @item set print demangle
7165 @itemx set print demangle on
7166 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
7167 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
7168 linkage. The default is on.
7169
7170 @item show print demangle
7171 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
7172
7173 @item set print asm-demangle
7174 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
7175 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
7176 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
7177 The default is off.
7178
7179 @item show print asm-demangle
7180 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
7181 or demangled form.
7182
7183 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
7184 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
7185 @kindex set demangle-style
7186 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
7187 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
7188 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
7189
7190 @table @code
7191 @item auto
7192 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
7193
7194 @item gnu
7195 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
7196 This is the default.
7197
7198 @item hp
7199 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
7200
7201 @item lucid
7202 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
7203
7204 @item arm
7205 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
7206 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
7207 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
7208 require further enhancement to permit that.
7209
7210 @end table
7211 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
7212
7213 @item show demangle-style
7214 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
7215
7216 @item set print object
7217 @itemx set print object on
7218 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
7219 @cindex display derived types
7220 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
7221 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
7222 the virtual function table.
7223
7224 @item set print object off
7225 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
7226 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
7227
7228 @item show print object
7229 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
7230
7231 @item set print static-members
7232 @itemx set print static-members on
7233 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
7234 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
7235
7236 @item set print static-members off
7237 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
7238
7239 @item show print static-members
7240 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
7241
7242 @item set print pascal_static-members
7243 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
7244 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
7245 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
7246 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
7247
7248 @item set print pascal_static-members off
7249 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
7250
7251 @item show print pascal_static-members
7252 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
7253
7254 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
7255 @item set print vtbl
7256 @itemx set print vtbl on
7257 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
7258 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
7259 @cindex VTBL display
7260 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
7261 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
7262 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
7263
7264 @item set print vtbl off
7265 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
7266
7267 @item show print vtbl
7268 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
7269 @end table
7270
7271 @node Value History
7272 @section Value History
7273
7274 @cindex value history
7275 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
7276 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
7277 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
7278 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
7279 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
7280 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
7281 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
7282 symbol table.
7283
7284 @cindex @code{$}
7285 @cindex @code{$$}
7286 @cindex history number
7287 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
7288 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
7289 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
7290 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
7291 history number.
7292
7293 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
7294 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
7295 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
7296 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
7297 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
7298 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
7299 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
7300
7301 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
7302 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
7303
7304 @smallexample
7305 p *$
7306 @end smallexample
7307
7308 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
7309 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
7310
7311 @smallexample
7312 p *$.next
7313 @end smallexample
7314
7315 @noindent
7316 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
7317 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
7318
7319 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
7320 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
7321
7322 @smallexample
7323 print x
7324 set x=5
7325 @end smallexample
7326
7327 @noindent
7328 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
7329 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
7330
7331 @table @code
7332 @kindex show values
7333 @item show values
7334 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
7335 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
7336 values} does not change the history.
7337
7338 @item show values @var{n}
7339 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
7340
7341 @item show values +
7342 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
7343 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
7344 @end table
7345
7346 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
7347 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
7348
7349 @node Convenience Vars
7350 @section Convenience Variables
7351
7352 @cindex convenience variables
7353 @cindex user-defined variables
7354 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
7355 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
7356 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
7357 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
7358 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
7359
7360 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
7361 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
7362 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7363 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
7364 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
7365
7366 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
7367 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
7368 For example:
7369
7370 @smallexample
7371 set $foo = *object_ptr
7372 @end smallexample
7373
7374 @noindent
7375 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
7376 @code{object_ptr}.
7377
7378 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
7379 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
7380 value with another assignment at any time.
7381
7382 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
7383 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
7384 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
7385 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
7386
7387 @table @code
7388 @kindex show convenience
7389 @cindex show all user variables
7390 @item show convenience
7391 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
7392 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
7393
7394 @kindex init-if-undefined
7395 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
7396 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
7397 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
7398 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
7399 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
7400 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
7401 override default values used in a command script.
7402
7403 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
7404 any side-effects do not occur.
7405 @end table
7406
7407 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
7408 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
7409 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
7410
7411 @smallexample
7412 set $i = 0
7413 print bar[$i++]->contents
7414 @end smallexample
7415
7416 @noindent
7417 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
7418
7419 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
7420 values likely to be useful.
7421
7422 @table @code
7423 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
7424 @item $_
7425 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
7426 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
7427 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
7428 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
7429 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
7430 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
7431 to the type of @code{$__}.
7432
7433 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
7434 @item $__
7435 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
7436 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
7437 to match the format in which the data was printed.
7438
7439 @item $_exitcode
7440 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
7441 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
7442 the program being debugged terminates.
7443
7444 @item $_siginfo
7445 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
7446 The variable @code{$_siginfo} is bound to extra signal information
7447 inspection (@pxref{extra signal information}).
7448 @end table
7449
7450 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
7451 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
7452 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
7453
7454 @cindex convenience functions
7455 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
7456 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
7457 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
7458 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
7459 @value{GDBN}.
7460
7461 @table @code
7462 @item help function
7463 @kindex help function
7464 @cindex show all convenience functions
7465 Print a list of all convenience functions.
7466 @end table
7467
7468 @node Registers
7469 @section Registers
7470
7471 @cindex registers
7472 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
7473 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
7474 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
7475 your machine.
7476
7477 @table @code
7478 @kindex info registers
7479 @item info registers
7480 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
7481 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
7482
7483 @kindex info all-registers
7484 @cindex floating point registers
7485 @item info all-registers
7486 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
7487 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
7488
7489 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
7490 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
7491 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
7492 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
7493 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
7494 @end table
7495
7496 @cindex stack pointer register
7497 @cindex program counter register
7498 @cindex process status register
7499 @cindex frame pointer register
7500 @cindex standard registers
7501 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
7502 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
7503 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
7504 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
7505 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
7506 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
7507 register that contains the processor status. For example,
7508 you could print the program counter in hex with
7509
7510 @smallexample
7511 p/x $pc
7512 @end smallexample
7513
7514 @noindent
7515 or print the instruction to be executed next with
7516
7517 @smallexample
7518 x/i $pc
7519 @end smallexample
7520
7521 @noindent
7522 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
7523 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
7524 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
7525 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
7526 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
7527 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
7528 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
7529
7530 @smallexample
7531 set $sp += 4
7532 @end smallexample
7533
7534 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
7535 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
7536 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
7537 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
7538 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
7539 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
7540 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
7541
7542 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
7543 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
7544 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
7545 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
7546 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
7547 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
7548 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
7549
7550 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
7551 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
7552 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
7553 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
7554 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
7555 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
7556 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
7557 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
7558 prints the data in both formats.
7559
7560 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
7561 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
7562 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
7563 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
7564 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
7565 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
7566 registers in @code{struct} notation:
7567
7568 @smallexample
7569 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
7570 $1 = @{
7571 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
7572 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
7573 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
7574 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
7575 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
7576 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
7577 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
7578 @}
7579 @end smallexample
7580
7581 @noindent
7582 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
7583 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
7584 value to a @code{struct} member:
7585
7586 @smallexample
7587 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
7588 @end smallexample
7589
7590 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
7591 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
7592 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
7593 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
7594 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
7595 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
7596
7597 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
7598 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
7599 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
7600 frame makes no difference.
7601
7602 @node Floating Point Hardware
7603 @section Floating Point Hardware
7604 @cindex floating point
7605
7606 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
7607 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
7608
7609 @table @code
7610 @kindex info float
7611 @item info float
7612 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
7613 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
7614 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
7615 the ARM and x86 machines.
7616 @end table
7617
7618 @node Vector Unit
7619 @section Vector Unit
7620 @cindex vector unit
7621
7622 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
7623 more information about the status of the vector unit.
7624
7625 @table @code
7626 @kindex info vector
7627 @item info vector
7628 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
7629 layout vary depending on the hardware.
7630 @end table
7631
7632 @node OS Information
7633 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
7634 @cindex OS information
7635
7636 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
7637 you debug your program.
7638
7639 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
7640 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
7641 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
7642 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
7643 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
7644 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
7645 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
7646 structure.
7647
7648 @table @code
7649 @item info udot
7650 @kindex info udot
7651 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
7652 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
7653 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
7654 the @code{examine} command.
7655 @end table
7656
7657 @cindex auxiliary vector
7658 @cindex vector, auxiliary
7659 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
7660 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
7661 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
7662 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
7663 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
7664 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
7665 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
7666 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
7667 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
7668 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
7669 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
7670
7671 @table @code
7672 @kindex info auxv
7673 @item info auxv
7674 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
7675 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
7676 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
7677 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
7678 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
7679 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
7680 an unrecognized tag.
7681 @end table
7682
7683 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
7684 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
7685 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
7686 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
7687
7688 @table @code
7689 @kindex info os processes
7690 @item info os processes
7691 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
7692 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
7693 the command corresponding to the process.
7694 @end table
7695
7696 @node Memory Region Attributes
7697 @section Memory Region Attributes
7698 @cindex memory region attributes
7699
7700 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
7701 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
7702 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
7703 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
7704 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
7705 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
7706 user can override the fetched regions.
7707
7708 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
7709 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
7710 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
7711 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
7712 all memory.
7713
7714 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
7715 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
7716
7717 @table @code
7718 @kindex mem
7719 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
7720 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
7721 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
7722 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
7723 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
7724 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
7725
7726 @item mem auto
7727 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
7728 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
7729
7730 @kindex delete mem
7731 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7732 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
7733 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
7734
7735 @kindex disable mem
7736 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7737 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
7738 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
7739 It may be enabled again later.
7740
7741 @kindex enable mem
7742 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7743 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
7744
7745 @kindex info mem
7746 @item info mem
7747 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
7748 for each region:
7749
7750 @table @emph
7751 @item Memory Region Number
7752 @item Enabled or Disabled.
7753 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
7754 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
7755
7756 @item Lo Address
7757 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
7758
7759 @item Hi Address
7760 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
7761
7762 @item Attributes
7763 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
7764 @end table
7765 @end table
7766
7767
7768 @subsection Attributes
7769
7770 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
7771 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
7772 write accesses to a memory region.
7773
7774 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
7775 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
7776 etc.@: from accessing memory.
7777
7778 @table @code
7779 @item ro
7780 Memory is read only.
7781 @item wo
7782 Memory is write only.
7783 @item rw
7784 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
7785 @end table
7786
7787 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
7788 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
7789 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
7790 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
7791 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
7792
7793 @table @code
7794 @item 8
7795 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
7796 @item 16
7797 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
7798 @item 32
7799 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
7800 @item 64
7801 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
7802 @end table
7803
7804 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
7805 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
7806 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
7807 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
7808 @c
7809 @c @table @code
7810 @c @item hwbreak
7811 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
7812 @c @item swbreak (default)
7813 @c @end table
7814
7815 @subsubsection Data Cache
7816 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
7817 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
7818 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
7819 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
7820 registers.
7821
7822 @table @code
7823 @item cache
7824 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
7825 @item nocache
7826 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
7827 @end table
7828
7829 @subsection Memory Access Checking
7830 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
7831 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
7832 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
7833 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
7834
7835 @table @code
7836 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
7837 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
7838 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
7839 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
7840 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
7841 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
7842 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
7843 The default value is @code{on}.
7844 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
7845 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
7846 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
7847 @end table
7848
7849
7850 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
7851 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
7852 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
7853 @c
7854 @c @table @code
7855 @c @item verify
7856 @c @item noverify (default)
7857 @c @end table
7858
7859 @node Dump/Restore Files
7860 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
7861 @cindex dump/restore files
7862 @cindex append data to a file
7863 @cindex dump data to a file
7864 @cindex restore data from a file
7865
7866 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
7867 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
7868 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
7869 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
7870 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
7871 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
7872 files.
7873
7874 @table @code
7875
7876 @kindex dump
7877 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
7878 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
7879 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
7880 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
7881
7882 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
7883 @table @code
7884 @item binary
7885 Raw binary form.
7886 @item ihex
7887 Intel hex format.
7888 @item srec
7889 Motorola S-record format.
7890 @item tekhex
7891 Tektronix Hex format.
7892 @end table
7893
7894 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
7895 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
7896 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
7897 form.
7898
7899 @kindex append
7900 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
7901 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
7902 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
7903 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
7904 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
7905
7906 @kindex restore
7907 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
7908 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
7909 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
7910 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
7911 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
7912
7913 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
7914 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
7915 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
7916 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
7917 from that location.
7918
7919 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
7920 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
7921 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
7922 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
7923
7924 @end table
7925
7926 @node Core File Generation
7927 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
7928 @cindex dump core from inferior
7929
7930 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
7931 image of a running process and its process status (register values
7932 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
7933 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
7934 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
7935 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
7936 the post-mortem debugging mode.
7937
7938 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
7939 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
7940 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
7941
7942 @table @code
7943 @kindex gcore
7944 @kindex generate-core-file
7945 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
7946 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
7947 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
7948 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
7949 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
7950 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
7951
7952 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
7953 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
7954 @end table
7955
7956 @node Character Sets
7957 @section Character Sets
7958 @cindex character sets
7959 @cindex charset
7960 @cindex translating between character sets
7961 @cindex host character set
7962 @cindex target character set
7963
7964 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
7965 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
7966 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
7967 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
7968 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
7969 @dfn{target character set}.
7970
7971 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
7972 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
7973 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
7974 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
7975 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
7976 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
7977 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
7978 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
7979 character and string literals in expressions.
7980
7981 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
7982 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
7983 target-charset} command, described below.
7984
7985 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
7986 support:
7987
7988 @table @code
7989 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
7990 @kindex set target-charset
7991 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
7992 list of supported target character sets, type
7993 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
7994
7995 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
7996 @kindex set host-charset
7997 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
7998
7999 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
8000 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
8001 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
8002 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
8003 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
8004
8005 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
8006 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8007 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
8008
8009 @item set charset @var{charset}
8010 @kindex set charset
8011 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
8012 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8013 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
8014 for both host and target.
8015
8016 @item show charset
8017 @kindex show charset
8018 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
8019
8020 @item show host-charset
8021 @kindex show host-charset
8022 Show the name of the current host character set.
8023
8024 @item show target-charset
8025 @kindex show target-charset
8026 Show the name of the current target character set.
8027
8028 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
8029 @kindex set target-wide-charset
8030 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
8031 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
8032 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
8033 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8034
8035 @item show target-wide-charset
8036 @kindex show target-wide-charset
8037 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
8038 @end table
8039
8040 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
8041 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
8042 @file{charset-test.c}:
8043
8044 @smallexample
8045 #include <stdio.h>
8046
8047 char ascii_hello[]
8048 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
8049 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
8050 char ibm1047_hello[]
8051 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
8052 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
8053
8054 main ()
8055 @{
8056 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8057 @}
8058 @end smallexample
8059
8060 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
8061 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
8062 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
8063
8064 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
8065
8066 @smallexample
8067 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
8068 $ gdb -nw charset-test
8069 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
8070 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8071 @dots{}
8072 (@value{GDBP})
8073 @end smallexample
8074
8075 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
8076 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
8077 strings:
8078
8079 @smallexample
8080 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8081 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
8082 (@value{GDBP})
8083 @end smallexample
8084
8085 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
8086 initial character set:
8087 @smallexample
8088 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
8089 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8090 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
8091 (@value{GDBP})
8092 @end smallexample
8093
8094 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
8095 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
8096 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
8097 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
8098 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
8099
8100 @smallexample
8101 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8102 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
8103 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8104 $2 = 72 'H'
8105 (@value{GDBP})
8106 @end smallexample
8107
8108 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
8109 literals you use in expressions:
8110
8111 @smallexample
8112 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8113 $3 = 43 '+'
8114 (@value{GDBP})
8115 @end smallexample
8116
8117 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
8118 character.
8119
8120 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
8121 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
8122 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
8123
8124 @smallexample
8125 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8126 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
8127 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8128 $5 = 200 '\310'
8129 (@value{GDBP})
8130 @end smallexample
8131
8132 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
8133 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
8134
8135 @smallexample
8136 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8137 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
8138 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8139 @end smallexample
8140
8141 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
8142 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
8143 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
8144 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
8145 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
8146
8147 @smallexample
8148 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
8149 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8150 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
8151 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
8152 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8153 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
8154 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8155 $7 = 72 '\110'
8156 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8157 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
8158 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8159 $9 = 200 'H'
8160 (@value{GDBP})
8161 @end smallexample
8162
8163 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
8164 string literals you use in expressions:
8165
8166 @smallexample
8167 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8168 $10 = 78 '+'
8169 (@value{GDBP})
8170 @end smallexample
8171
8172 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
8173 character.
8174
8175 @node Caching Remote Data
8176 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
8177 @cindex caching data of remote targets
8178
8179 @value{GDBN} can cache data exchanged between the debugger and a
8180 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
8181 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
8182 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately,
8183 @value{GDBN} does not currently know anything about volatile
8184 registers, and thus data caching will produce incorrect results when
8185 volatile registers are in use.
8186
8187 @table @code
8188 @kindex set remotecache
8189 @item set remotecache on
8190 @itemx set remotecache off
8191 Set caching state for remote targets. When @code{ON}, use data
8192 caching. By default, this option is @code{OFF}.
8193
8194 @kindex show remotecache
8195 @item show remotecache
8196 Show the current state of data caching for remote targets.
8197
8198 @kindex info dcache
8199 @item info dcache
8200 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
8201 information displayed includes: the dcache width and depth; and for
8202 each cache line, how many times it was referenced, and its data and
8203 state (invalid, dirty, valid). This command is useful for debugging
8204 the data cache operation.
8205 @end table
8206
8207 @node Searching Memory
8208 @section Search Memory
8209 @cindex searching memory
8210
8211 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
8212 @code{find} command.
8213
8214 @table @code
8215 @kindex find
8216 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8217 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8218 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
8219 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
8220 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
8221 @end table
8222
8223 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
8224 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
8225
8226 @table @r
8227 @item @var{s}, search query size
8228 The size of each search query value.
8229
8230 @table @code
8231 @item b
8232 bytes
8233 @item h
8234 halfwords (two bytes)
8235 @item w
8236 words (four bytes)
8237 @item g
8238 giant words (eight bytes)
8239 @end table
8240
8241 All values are interpreted in the current language.
8242 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
8243 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
8244
8245 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
8246 value's type in the current language.
8247 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
8248 pattern as a mixture of types.
8249 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
8250 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
8251 which is typically four bytes.
8252
8253 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
8254 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
8255 @end table
8256
8257 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
8258 (@code{"}).
8259 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
8260 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
8261
8262 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
8263 number of matches found.
8264
8265 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
8266 @samp{$_}.
8267 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
8268
8269 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
8270
8271 @smallexample
8272 void
8273 hello ()
8274 @{
8275 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
8276 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
8277 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
8278 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
8279 printf ("%s\n", hello);
8280 @}
8281 @end smallexample
8282
8283 @noindent
8284 you get during debugging:
8285
8286 @smallexample
8287 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
8288 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
8289 1 pattern found
8290 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
8291 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
8292 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
8293 2 patterns found
8294 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
8295 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
8296 1 pattern found
8297 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
8298 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
8299 1 pattern found
8300 (gdb) print $numfound
8301 $1 = 1
8302 (gdb) print $_
8303 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
8304 @end smallexample
8305
8306 @node Macros
8307 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
8308
8309 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
8310 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
8311 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
8312 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
8313 where it was defined.
8314
8315 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
8316 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
8317 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
8318 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
8319
8320 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
8321 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
8322 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
8323 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
8324 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
8325 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
8326 see @ref{List}.
8327
8328 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
8329 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
8330 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
8331
8332 @table @code
8333
8334 @kindex macro expand
8335 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
8336 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
8337 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
8338 @item macro expand @var{expression}
8339 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
8340 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
8341 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
8342 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
8343 it can be any string of tokens.
8344
8345 @kindex macro exp1
8346 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
8347 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
8348 @cindex expand macro once
8349 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
8350 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
8351 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
8352 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
8353 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
8354 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
8355 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
8356 can be any string of tokens.
8357
8358 @kindex info macro
8359 @cindex macro definition, showing
8360 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
8361 @item info macro @var{macro}
8362 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
8363 source location where that definition was established.
8364
8365 @kindex macro define
8366 @cindex user-defined macros
8367 @cindex defining macros interactively
8368 @cindex macros, user-defined
8369 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
8370 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
8371 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
8372 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
8373 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
8374 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
8375 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
8376 @var{arglist}.
8377
8378 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
8379 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
8380 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
8381 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
8382 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
8383
8384 @kindex macro undef
8385 @item macro undef @var{macro}
8386 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
8387 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
8388 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
8389 in the program being debugged.
8390
8391 @kindex macro list
8392 @item macro list
8393 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
8394 @end table
8395
8396 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
8397 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
8398 show our source files:
8399
8400 @smallexample
8401 $ cat sample.c
8402 #include <stdio.h>
8403 #include "sample.h"
8404
8405 #define M 42
8406 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
8407
8408 main ()
8409 @{
8410 #define N 28
8411 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8412 #undef N
8413 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
8414 #define N 1729
8415 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
8416 @}
8417 $ cat sample.h
8418 #define Q <
8419 $
8420 @end smallexample
8421
8422 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
8423 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
8424 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
8425 information.
8426
8427 @smallexample
8428 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
8429 $
8430 @end smallexample
8431
8432 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
8433
8434 @smallexample
8435 $ gdb -nw sample
8436 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
8437 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8438 GDB is free software, @dots{}
8439 (@value{GDBP})
8440 @end smallexample
8441
8442 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
8443 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
8444 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
8445
8446 @smallexample
8447 (@value{GDBP}) list main
8448 3
8449 4 #define M 42
8450 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
8451 6
8452 7 main ()
8453 8 @{
8454 9 #define N 28
8455 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8456 11 #undef N
8457 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
8458 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
8459 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
8460 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
8461 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
8462 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
8463 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
8464 #define Q <
8465 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
8466 expands to: (42 + 1)
8467 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
8468 expands to: once (M + 1)
8469 (@value{GDBP})
8470 @end smallexample
8471
8472 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
8473 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
8474 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
8475 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
8476
8477 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
8478 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
8479
8480 @smallexample
8481 (@value{GDBP}) break main
8482 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
8483 (@value{GDBP}) run
8484 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
8485
8486 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
8487 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8488 (@value{GDBP})
8489 @end smallexample
8490
8491 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
8492
8493 @smallexample
8494 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
8495 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
8496 #define N 28
8497 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
8498 expands to: 28 < 42
8499 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
8500 $1 = 1
8501 (@value{GDBP})
8502 @end smallexample
8503
8504 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
8505 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
8506 thereof) in force at each point:
8507
8508 @smallexample
8509 (@value{GDBP}) next
8510 Hello, world!
8511 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
8512 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
8513 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
8514 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
8515 (@value{GDBP}) next
8516 We're so creative.
8517 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
8518 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
8519 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
8520 #define N 1729
8521 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
8522 expands to: 1729 < 42
8523 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
8524 $2 = 0
8525 (@value{GDBP})
8526 @end smallexample
8527
8528
8529 @node Tracepoints
8530 @chapter Tracepoints
8531 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
8532 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
8533
8534 @cindex tracepoints
8535 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
8536 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
8537 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
8538 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
8539 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
8540 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
8541 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
8542
8543 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
8544 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
8545 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
8546 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
8547 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
8548 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
8549 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
8550 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
8551 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
8552 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
8553 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
8554
8555 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
8556 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
8557 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
8558 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
8559 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
8560 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
8561 Packets}.
8562
8563 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
8564
8565 @menu
8566 * Set Tracepoints::
8567 * Analyze Collected Data::
8568 * Tracepoint Variables::
8569 @end menu
8570
8571 @node Set Tracepoints
8572 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
8573
8574 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
8575 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
8576 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
8577 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
8578 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
8579 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
8580 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
8581
8582 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
8583 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
8584 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
8585 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
8586 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
8587 tracepoint was hit.
8588
8589 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Conditional
8590 expressions and ignore counts on tracepoints have no effect, and
8591 tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN} commands when they are
8592 hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific either.
8593
8594 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
8595 conditions and actions.
8596
8597 @menu
8598 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
8599 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
8600 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
8601 * Tracepoint Actions::
8602 * Listing Tracepoints::
8603 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
8604 @end menu
8605
8606 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
8607 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
8608
8609 @table @code
8610 @cindex set tracepoint
8611 @kindex trace
8612 @item trace @var{location}
8613 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
8614 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
8615 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
8616 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
8617 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
8618 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
8619 changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
8620 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
8621 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
8622
8623 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
8624
8625 @smallexample
8626 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
8627
8628 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
8629
8630 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
8631
8632 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
8633
8634 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
8635 @end smallexample
8636
8637 @noindent
8638 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
8639
8640 @vindex $tpnum
8641 @cindex last tracepoint number
8642 @cindex recent tracepoint number
8643 @cindex tracepoint number
8644 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
8645 of the most recently set tracepoint.
8646
8647 @kindex delete tracepoint
8648 @cindex tracepoint deletion
8649 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8650 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
8651 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
8652 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
8653
8654 Examples:
8655
8656 @smallexample
8657 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
8658
8659 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
8660 @end smallexample
8661
8662 @noindent
8663 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
8664 @end table
8665
8666 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
8667 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
8668
8669 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
8670
8671 @table @code
8672 @kindex disable tracepoint
8673 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8674 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
8675 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
8676 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
8677 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
8678
8679 @kindex enable tracepoint
8680 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8681 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
8682 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
8683 run.
8684 @end table
8685
8686 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
8687 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
8688
8689 @table @code
8690 @kindex passcount
8691 @cindex tracepoint pass count
8692 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
8693 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
8694 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
8695 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
8696 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
8697 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
8698 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
8699 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
8700 user.
8701
8702 Examples:
8703
8704 @smallexample
8705 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
8706 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
8707
8708 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
8709 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
8710 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
8711 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
8712 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
8713 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
8714 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
8715 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
8716 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
8717 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
8718 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
8719 @end smallexample
8720 @end table
8721
8722 @node Tracepoint Actions
8723 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
8724
8725 @table @code
8726 @kindex actions
8727 @cindex tracepoint actions
8728 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8729 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
8730 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
8731 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
8732 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
8733 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
8734 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
8735 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
8736 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect} and
8737 @code{while-stepping}.
8738
8739 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
8740 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
8741 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
8742
8743 @smallexample
8744 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
8745
8746 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
8747
8748 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
8749 @end smallexample
8750
8751 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
8752 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
8753 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
8754 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
8755 followed by the list of things to be collected while stepping. The
8756 @code{while-stepping} command is terminated by its own separate
8757 @code{end} command. Lastly, the action list is terminated by an
8758 @code{end} command.
8759
8760 @smallexample
8761 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
8762 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
8763 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
8764 > collect bar,baz
8765 > collect $regs
8766 > while-stepping 12
8767 > collect $fp, $sp
8768 > end
8769 end
8770 @end smallexample
8771
8772 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
8773 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
8774 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
8775 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
8776 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
8777 special arguments are supported:
8778
8779 @table @code
8780 @item $regs
8781 collect all registers
8782
8783 @item $args
8784 collect all function arguments
8785
8786 @item $locals
8787 collect all local variables.
8788 @end table
8789
8790 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
8791 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
8792 arguments separated by commas: the effect is the same.
8793
8794 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
8795 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
8796
8797 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
8798 @item while-stepping @var{n}
8799 Perform @var{n} single-step traces after the tracepoint, collecting
8800 new data at each step. The @code{while-stepping} command is
8801 followed by the list of what to collect while stepping (followed by
8802 its own @code{end} command):
8803
8804 @smallexample
8805 > while-stepping 12
8806 > collect $regs, myglobal
8807 > end
8808 >
8809 @end smallexample
8810
8811 @noindent
8812 You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
8813 @code{stepping}.
8814 @end table
8815
8816 @node Listing Tracepoints
8817 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
8818
8819 @table @code
8820 @kindex info tracepoints
8821 @kindex info tp
8822 @cindex information about tracepoints
8823 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8824 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
8825 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
8826 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
8827 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
8828 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
8829
8830 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
8831 tracing:
8832
8833 @itemize @bullet
8834 @item
8835 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
8836 @item
8837 its step count as given by the @code{while-stepping @var{n}} command
8838 @item
8839 its action list as given by the @code{actions} command. The actions
8840 are prefixed with an @samp{A} so as to distinguish them from commands.
8841 @end itemize
8842
8843 @smallexample
8844 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
8845 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
8846 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
8847 pass count 1200
8848 step count 20
8849 A while-stepping 20
8850 A collect globfoo, $regs
8851 A end
8852 A collect globfoo2
8853 A end
8854 (@value{GDBP})
8855 @end smallexample
8856
8857 @noindent
8858 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
8859 @end table
8860
8861 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
8862 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
8863
8864 @table @code
8865 @kindex tstart
8866 @cindex start a new trace experiment
8867 @cindex collected data discarded
8868 @item tstart
8869 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
8870 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
8871 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
8872 experiment.
8873
8874 @kindex tstop
8875 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
8876 @item tstop
8877 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
8878 stops collecting data.
8879
8880 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
8881 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
8882 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
8883
8884 @kindex tstatus
8885 @cindex status of trace data collection
8886 @cindex trace experiment, status of
8887 @item tstatus
8888 This command displays the status of the current trace data
8889 collection.
8890 @end table
8891
8892 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
8893
8894 @smallexample
8895 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
8896 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
8897 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
8898 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
8899 > while-stepping 11
8900 > collect $regs
8901 > end
8902 > end
8903 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
8904 [time passes @dots{}]
8905 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
8906 @end smallexample
8907
8908
8909 @node Analyze Collected Data
8910 @section Using the Collected Data
8911
8912 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
8913 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
8914 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
8915 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
8916 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
8917 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
8918 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
8919 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
8920 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
8921 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
8922 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
8923 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
8924 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
8925 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
8926 the buffer will fail.
8927
8928 @menu
8929 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
8930 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
8931 * save-tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
8932 @end menu
8933
8934 @node tfind
8935 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
8936
8937 @kindex tfind
8938 @cindex select trace snapshot
8939 @cindex find trace snapshot
8940 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
8941 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
8942 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
8943 snapshot is selected.
8944
8945 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
8946
8947 @table @code
8948 @item tfind start
8949 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
8950 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
8951
8952 @item tfind none
8953 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
8954
8955 @item tfind end
8956 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
8957
8958 @item tfind
8959 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
8960
8961 @item tfind -
8962 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
8963 retracing earlier steps.
8964
8965 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
8966 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
8967 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
8968 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
8969 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
8970
8971 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
8972 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
8973 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
8974 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
8975 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
8976
8977 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
8978 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
8979 addresses.
8980
8981 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
8982 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
8983 @var{addr2}. @c FIXME: Is the range inclusive or exclusive?
8984
8985 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
8986 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
8987 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
8988 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
8989 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
8990 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
8991 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
8992 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
8993 @end table
8994
8995 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
8996 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
8997 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
8998 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
8999 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
9000 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
9001 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
9002 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
9003 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
9004 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
9005 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
9006 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
9007 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
9008 tracepoint as the current one.
9009
9010 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
9011 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
9012 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
9013 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
9014 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
9015
9016 @smallexample
9017 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9018 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
9019 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
9020 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
9021 > tfind
9022 > end
9023
9024 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
9025 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
9026 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
9027 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
9028 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
9029 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
9030 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
9031 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
9032 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
9033 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
9034 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
9035 @end smallexample
9036
9037 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
9038 the buffer:
9039
9040 @smallexample
9041 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9042 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
9043 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
9044 > tfind line
9045 > end
9046
9047 Frame 0, X = 1
9048 Frame 7, X = 2
9049 Frame 13, X = 255
9050 @end smallexample
9051
9052 @node tdump
9053 @subsection @code{tdump}
9054 @kindex tdump
9055 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
9056 @cindex tracepoint data, display
9057
9058 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
9059 the current trace snapshot.
9060
9061 @smallexample
9062 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
9063 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9064 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
9065 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
9066 > end
9067
9068 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
9069
9070 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
9071 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
9072 at gdb_test.c:444
9073 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
9074
9075 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
9076 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
9077 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
9078 d1 0x18 24
9079 d2 0x80 128
9080 d3 0x33 51
9081 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
9082 d5 0x22 34
9083 d6 0xe0 224
9084 d7 0x380035 3670069
9085 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
9086 a1 0x3000668 50333288
9087 a2 0x100 256
9088 a3 0x322000 3284992
9089 a4 0x3000698 50333336
9090 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
9091 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
9092 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
9093 ps 0x0 0
9094 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
9095 fpcontrol 0x0 0
9096 fpstatus 0x0 0
9097 fpiaddr 0x0 0
9098 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
9099 p1 = (void *) 0x11
9100 p2 = (void *) 0x22
9101 p3 = (void *) 0x33
9102 p4 = (void *) 0x44
9103 p5 = (void *) 0x55
9104 p6 = (void *) 0x66
9105 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
9106
9107 (@value{GDBP})
9108 @end smallexample
9109
9110 @node save-tracepoints
9111 @subsection @code{save-tracepoints @var{filename}}
9112 @kindex save-tracepoints
9113 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
9114
9115 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
9116 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
9117 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
9118 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
9119 Files}).
9120
9121 @node Tracepoint Variables
9122 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
9123 @cindex tracepoint variables
9124 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
9125
9126 @table @code
9127 @vindex $trace_frame
9128 @item (int) $trace_frame
9129 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
9130 snapshot is selected.
9131
9132 @vindex $tracepoint
9133 @item (int) $tracepoint
9134 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
9135
9136 @vindex $trace_line
9137 @item (int) $trace_line
9138 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
9139
9140 @vindex $trace_file
9141 @item (char []) $trace_file
9142 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
9143
9144 @vindex $trace_func
9145 @item (char []) $trace_func
9146 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
9147 @end table
9148
9149 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
9150 use @code{output} instead.
9151
9152 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
9153 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
9154 data.
9155
9156 @smallexample
9157 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9158
9159 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
9160 > output $trace_file
9161 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
9162 > tfind
9163 > end
9164 @end smallexample
9165
9166 @node Overlays
9167 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
9168 @cindex overlays
9169
9170 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
9171 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
9172 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
9173 use overlays.
9174
9175 @menu
9176 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
9177 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
9178 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
9179 mapped by asking the inferior.
9180 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
9181 @end menu
9182
9183 @node How Overlays Work
9184 @section How Overlays Work
9185 @cindex mapped overlays
9186 @cindex unmapped overlays
9187 @cindex load address, overlay's
9188 @cindex mapped address
9189 @cindex overlay area
9190
9191 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
9192 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
9193 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
9194 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
9195 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
9196
9197 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
9198 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
9199 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
9200 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
9201 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
9202 largest overlay as well.
9203
9204 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
9205 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
9206 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
9207 there.
9208
9209 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
9210 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
9211 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
9212
9213 @smallexample
9214 @group
9215 Data Instruction Larger
9216 Address Space Address Space Address Space
9217 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
9218 | | | | | |
9219 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
9220 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
9221 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
9222 | and heap | | | | | |
9223 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
9224 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
9225 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
9226 | | | | | |
9227 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
9228 address | | | | | |
9229 | overlay | <-' | | |
9230 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
9231 | | <---. | | load address
9232 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
9233 | | | |
9234 +-----------+ | |
9235 +-----------+
9236 | |
9237 +-----------+
9238
9239 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
9240 @end group
9241 @end smallexample
9242
9243 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
9244 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
9245 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
9246 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
9247 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
9248 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
9249 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
9250 program and the overlay area.
9251
9252 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
9253 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
9254 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
9255 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
9256 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
9257 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
9258 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
9259
9260 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
9261 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
9262 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
9263
9264 @itemize @bullet
9265
9266 @item
9267 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
9268 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
9269 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
9270 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
9271
9272 @item
9273 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
9274 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
9275 your program's performance.
9276
9277 @item
9278 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
9279 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
9280 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
9281 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
9282 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
9283 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
9284 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
9285
9286 @item
9287 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
9288 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
9289 instruction and data spaces.
9290
9291 @end itemize
9292
9293 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
9294 improved in many ways:
9295
9296 @itemize @bullet
9297
9298 @item
9299 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
9300 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
9301 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
9302 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
9303 area in the usual way.
9304
9305 @item
9306 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
9307 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
9308
9309 @item
9310 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
9311 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
9312 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
9313 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
9314 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
9315 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
9316 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
9317
9318 @end itemize
9319
9320
9321 @node Overlay Commands
9322 @section Overlay Commands
9323
9324 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
9325 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
9326 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
9327 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
9328 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
9329 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
9330
9331 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
9332 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
9333
9334 @table @code
9335 @item overlay off
9336 @kindex overlay
9337 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
9338 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
9339 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
9340 overlay support is disabled.
9341
9342 @item overlay manual
9343 @cindex manual overlay debugging
9344 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
9345 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
9346 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
9347 commands described below.
9348
9349 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
9350 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
9351 @cindex map an overlay
9352 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
9353 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
9354 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
9355 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
9356 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
9357 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
9358
9359 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
9360 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
9361 @cindex unmap an overlay
9362 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
9363 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
9364 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
9365 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
9366
9367 @item overlay auto
9368 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
9369 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
9370 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
9371 Overlay Debugging}.
9372
9373 @item overlay load-target
9374 @itemx overlay load
9375 @cindex reloading the overlay table
9376 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
9377 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
9378 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
9379 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
9380 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
9381
9382 @item overlay list-overlays
9383 @itemx overlay list
9384 @cindex listing mapped overlays
9385 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
9386 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
9387
9388 @end table
9389
9390 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
9391 of the function the address falls in:
9392
9393 @smallexample
9394 (@value{GDBP}) print main
9395 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
9396 @end smallexample
9397 @noindent
9398 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
9399 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
9400 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
9401 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
9402
9403 @smallexample
9404 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
9405 No sections are mapped.
9406 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
9407 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
9408 @end smallexample
9409 @noindent
9410 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
9411 name normally:
9412
9413 @smallexample
9414 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
9415 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
9416 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
9417 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
9418 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
9419 @end smallexample
9420
9421 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
9422 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
9423 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
9424 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
9425 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
9426
9427 @itemize @bullet
9428 @item
9429 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
9430 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
9431 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
9432 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
9433 @item
9434 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
9435 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
9436 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
9437 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
9438 breakpoints properly.
9439 @end itemize
9440
9441
9442 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
9443 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
9444 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
9445
9446 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
9447 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
9448 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
9449 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
9450 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
9451 current state of the overlays.
9452
9453 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
9454 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
9455
9456 @table @asis
9457
9458 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
9459 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
9460
9461 @smallexample
9462 struct
9463 @{
9464 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
9465 unsigned long vma;
9466
9467 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
9468 unsigned long size;
9469
9470 /* The overlay's load address. */
9471 unsigned long lma;
9472
9473 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
9474 zero otherwise. */
9475 unsigned long mapped;
9476 @}
9477 @end smallexample
9478
9479 @item @code{_novlys}:
9480 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
9481 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
9482
9483 @end table
9484
9485 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
9486 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
9487 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
9488 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
9489 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
9490 currently mapped.
9491
9492 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
9493 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
9494 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
9495 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
9496 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
9497 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
9498 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
9499 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
9500 are not being executed.
9501
9502 @node Overlay Sample Program
9503 @section Overlay Sample Program
9504 @cindex overlay example program
9505
9506 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
9507 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
9508 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
9509 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
9510 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
9511 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
9512 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
9513
9514 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
9515 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
9516 suite. The program consists of the following files from
9517 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
9518
9519 @table @file
9520 @item overlays.c
9521 The main program file.
9522 @item ovlymgr.c
9523 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
9524 @item foo.c
9525 @itemx bar.c
9526 @itemx baz.c
9527 @itemx grbx.c
9528 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
9529 @item d10v.ld
9530 @itemx m32r.ld
9531 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
9532 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
9533 @end table
9534
9535 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
9536 cross-compiler like this:
9537
9538 @smallexample
9539 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
9540 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
9541 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
9542 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
9543 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
9544 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
9545 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
9546 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
9547 @end smallexample
9548
9549 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
9550 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
9551 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
9552
9553
9554 @node Languages
9555 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
9556 @cindex languages
9557
9558 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
9559 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
9560 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
9561 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
9562 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
9563 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
9564
9565 @cindex working language
9566 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
9567 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
9568 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
9569 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
9570 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
9571 language}.
9572
9573 @menu
9574 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
9575 * Show:: Displaying the language
9576 * Checks:: Type and range checks
9577 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
9578 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
9579 @end menu
9580
9581 @node Setting
9582 @section Switching Between Source Languages
9583
9584 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
9585 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
9586 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
9587 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
9588 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
9589 are printed, etc.
9590
9591 In addition to the working language, every source file that
9592 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
9593 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
9594 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
9595 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
9596 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
9597 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
9598 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
9599 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
9600 Displaying the Language}.
9601
9602 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
9603 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
9604 another language. In that case, make the
9605 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
9606 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
9607 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
9608
9609 @menu
9610 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
9611 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
9612 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
9613 @end menu
9614
9615 @node Filenames
9616 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
9617
9618 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
9619 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
9620
9621 @table @file
9622 @item .ada
9623 @itemx .ads
9624 @itemx .adb
9625 @itemx .a
9626 Ada source file.
9627
9628 @item .c
9629 C source file
9630
9631 @item .C
9632 @itemx .cc
9633 @itemx .cp
9634 @itemx .cpp
9635 @itemx .cxx
9636 @itemx .c++
9637 C@t{++} source file
9638
9639 @item .m
9640 Objective-C source file
9641
9642 @item .f
9643 @itemx .F
9644 Fortran source file
9645
9646 @item .mod
9647 Modula-2 source file
9648
9649 @item .s
9650 @itemx .S
9651 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
9652 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
9653 @end table
9654
9655 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
9656 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
9657
9658 @node Manually
9659 @subsection Setting the Working Language
9660
9661 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
9662 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
9663 your program.
9664
9665 @kindex set language
9666 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
9667 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
9668 a language, such as
9669 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
9670 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
9671
9672 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
9673 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
9674 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
9675 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
9676 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
9677 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
9678 command such as:
9679
9680 @smallexample
9681 print a = b + c
9682 @end smallexample
9683
9684 @noindent
9685 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
9686 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
9687 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
9688 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
9689
9690 @node Automatically
9691 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
9692
9693 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
9694 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
9695 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
9696 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
9697 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
9698 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
9699 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
9700 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
9701 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
9702
9703 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
9704 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
9705 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
9706 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
9707 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
9708
9709 @node Show
9710 @section Displaying the Language
9711
9712 The following commands help you find out which language is the
9713 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
9714
9715 @table @code
9716 @item show language
9717 @kindex show language
9718 Display the current working language. This is the
9719 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
9720 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
9721
9722 @item info frame
9723 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
9724 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
9725 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
9726 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
9727 information listed here.
9728
9729 @item info source
9730 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
9731 Display the source language of this source file.
9732 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
9733 information listed here.
9734 @end table
9735
9736 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
9737 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
9738 with a language explicitly:
9739
9740 @table @code
9741 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
9742 @kindex set extension-language
9743 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
9744 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
9745
9746 @item info extensions
9747 @kindex info extensions
9748 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
9749 @end table
9750
9751 @node Checks
9752 @section Type and Range Checking
9753
9754 @quotation
9755 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
9756 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
9757 section documents the intended facilities.
9758 @end quotation
9759 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
9760
9761 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
9762 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
9763 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
9764 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
9765 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
9766 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
9767 errors when your program is running.
9768
9769 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
9770 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
9771 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
9772 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
9773 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
9774 automatically based on your program's source language.
9775 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
9776 settings of supported languages.
9777
9778 @menu
9779 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
9780 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
9781 @end menu
9782
9783 @cindex type checking
9784 @cindex checks, type
9785 @node Type Checking
9786 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
9787
9788 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
9789 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
9790 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
9791 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
9792
9793 @smallexample
9794 1 + 2 @result{} 3
9795 @exdent but
9796 @error{} 1 + 2.3
9797 @end smallexample
9798
9799 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
9800 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
9801
9802 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
9803 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
9804 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
9805 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
9806 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
9807 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
9808 also issues a warning.
9809
9810 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
9811 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
9812 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
9813 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
9814 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
9815 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
9816
9817 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
9818 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
9819 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
9820 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
9821 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
9822 details on specific languages.
9823
9824 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
9825
9826 @kindex set check type
9827 @kindex show check type
9828 @table @code
9829 @item set check type auto
9830 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
9831 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
9832 each language.
9833
9834 @item set check type on
9835 @itemx set check type off
9836 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
9837 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
9838 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
9839 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
9840 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
9841
9842 @item set check type warn
9843 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
9844 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
9845 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
9846 numbers and structures.
9847
9848 @item show type
9849 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
9850 is setting it automatically.
9851 @end table
9852
9853 @cindex range checking
9854 @cindex checks, range
9855 @node Range Checking
9856 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
9857
9858 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
9859 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
9860 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
9861 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
9862 not exceed the bounds of the array.
9863
9864 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
9865 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
9866 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
9867 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
9868
9869 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
9870 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
9871 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
9872 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
9873 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
9874 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
9875
9876 @smallexample
9877 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
9878 @end smallexample
9879
9880 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
9881 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
9882 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
9883
9884 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
9885
9886 @kindex set check range
9887 @kindex show check range
9888 @table @code
9889 @item set check range auto
9890 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
9891 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
9892 each language.
9893
9894 @item set check range on
9895 @itemx set check range off
9896 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
9897 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
9898 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
9899 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
9900
9901 @item set check range warn
9902 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
9903 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
9904 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
9905 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
9906 systems).
9907
9908 @item show range
9909 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
9910 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
9911 @end table
9912
9913 @node Supported Languages
9914 @section Supported Languages
9915
9916 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
9917 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
9918 @c This is false ...
9919 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
9920 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
9921 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
9922 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
9923 language.
9924
9925 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
9926 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
9927 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
9928 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
9929 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
9930 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
9931 language reference or tutorial.
9932
9933 @menu
9934 * C:: C and C@t{++}
9935 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
9936 * Fortran:: Fortran
9937 * Pascal:: Pascal
9938 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
9939 * Ada:: Ada
9940 @end menu
9941
9942 @node C
9943 @subsection C and C@t{++}
9944
9945 @cindex C and C@t{++}
9946 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
9947
9948 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
9949 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
9950 together.
9951
9952 @cindex C@t{++}
9953 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
9954 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
9955 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
9956 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
9957 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
9958 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
9959 compiler (@code{aCC}).
9960
9961 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
9962 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
9963 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
9964 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
9965 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
9966 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
9967
9968 @menu
9969 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
9970 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
9971 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
9972 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
9973 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
9974 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
9975 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
9976 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
9977 @end menu
9978
9979 @node C Operators
9980 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
9981
9982 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
9983
9984 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
9985 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
9986 often defined on groups of types.
9987
9988 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
9989
9990 @itemize @bullet
9991
9992 @item
9993 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
9994 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
9995
9996 @item
9997 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
9998 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
9999
10000 @item
10001 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
10002
10003 @item
10004 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
10005
10006 @end itemize
10007
10008 @noindent
10009 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
10010 in order of increasing precedence:
10011
10012 @table @code
10013 @item ,
10014 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
10015 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
10016 expression being the last expression evaluated.
10017
10018 @item =
10019 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
10020 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
10021
10022 @item @var{op}=
10023 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
10024 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
10025 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
10026 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
10027 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
10028
10029 @item ?:
10030 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
10031 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
10032 integral type.
10033
10034 @item ||
10035 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10036
10037 @item &&
10038 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
10039
10040 @item |
10041 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10042
10043 @item ^
10044 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
10045
10046 @item &
10047 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
10048
10049 @item ==@r{, }!=
10050 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
10051 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
10052
10053 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
10054 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
10055 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
10056 and non-zero for true.
10057
10058 @item <<@r{, }>>
10059 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
10060
10061 @item @@
10062 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
10063
10064 @item +@r{, }-
10065 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
10066 pointer types.
10067
10068 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
10069 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
10070 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
10071 integral types.
10072
10073 @item ++@r{, }--
10074 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
10075 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
10076 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
10077 operation takes place.
10078
10079 @item *
10080 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
10081 @code{++}.
10082
10083 @item &
10084 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
10085
10086 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
10087 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
10088 to examine the address
10089 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
10090 stored.
10091
10092 @item -
10093 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
10094 precedence as @code{++}.
10095
10096 @item !
10097 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
10098 @code{++}.
10099
10100 @item ~
10101 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
10102 @code{++}.
10103
10104
10105 @item .@r{, }->
10106 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
10107 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
10108 pointer based on the stored type information.
10109 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
10110
10111 @item .*@r{, }->*
10112 Dereferences of pointers to members.
10113
10114 @item []
10115 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
10116 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
10117
10118 @item ()
10119 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
10120
10121 @item ::
10122 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
10123 and @code{class} types.
10124
10125 @item ::
10126 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
10127 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
10128 above.
10129 @end table
10130
10131 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
10132 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
10133 predefined meaning.
10134
10135 @node C Constants
10136 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
10137
10138 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
10139
10140 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
10141 following ways:
10142
10143 @itemize @bullet
10144 @item
10145 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
10146 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
10147 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
10148 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
10149 @code{long} value.
10150
10151 @item
10152 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
10153 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
10154 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
10155 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
10156 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
10157 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
10158 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
10159 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
10160 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
10161 constant.
10162
10163 @item
10164 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
10165 integral equivalents.
10166
10167 @item
10168 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
10169 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
10170 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
10171 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
10172 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
10173 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
10174 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
10175 @samp{\n} for newline.
10176
10177 @item
10178 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
10179 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
10180 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
10181 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
10182 characters.
10183
10184 @item
10185 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
10186 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
10187
10188 @item
10189 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
10190 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
10191 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
10192 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
10193 @end itemize
10194
10195 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
10196 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
10197
10198 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
10199 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
10200
10201 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
10202 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
10203 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
10204 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
10205 @quotation
10206 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
10207 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
10208 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
10209 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
10210 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
10211 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
10212 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
10213 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
10214 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
10215 C@t{++} code.
10216 @end quotation
10217
10218 @enumerate
10219
10220 @cindex member functions
10221 @item
10222 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
10223
10224 @smallexample
10225 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
10226 @end smallexample
10227
10228 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
10229 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
10230 @item
10231 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
10232 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
10233 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
10234 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
10235
10236 @cindex call overloaded functions
10237 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
10238 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
10239 @item
10240 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
10241 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
10242 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
10243 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
10244 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
10245 default arguments.
10246
10247 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
10248 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
10249 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
10250 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
10251 number of function arguments.
10252
10253 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
10254 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
10255 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
10256
10257 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
10258 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
10259 @smallexample
10260 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
10261 @end smallexample
10262
10263 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
10264 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
10265
10266 @cindex reference declarations
10267 @item
10268 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
10269 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
10270 dereferenced.
10271
10272 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
10273 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
10274 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
10275 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
10276 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
10277
10278 @item
10279 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
10280 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
10281 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
10282 necessary, for example in an expression like
10283 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
10284 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
10285 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
10286 @end enumerate
10287
10288 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
10289 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
10290 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
10291 invoking user-defined operators.
10292
10293 @node C Defaults
10294 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
10295
10296 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
10297
10298 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
10299 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
10300 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
10301 selects the working language.
10302
10303 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
10304 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
10305 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
10306 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
10307 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
10308 for further details.
10309
10310 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
10311 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
10312 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
10313
10314 @node C Checks
10315 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
10316
10317 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
10318
10319 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
10320 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
10321 considers two variables type equivalent if:
10322
10323 @itemize @bullet
10324 @item
10325 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
10326 enumerated tag.
10327
10328 @item
10329 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
10330 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
10331
10332 @ignore
10333 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
10334 @c FIXME--beers?
10335 @item
10336 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
10337 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
10338 compilers.)
10339 @end ignore
10340 @end itemize
10341
10342 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
10343 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
10344 that is not itself an array.
10345
10346 @node Debugging C
10347 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
10348
10349 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
10350 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
10351 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
10352 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
10353
10354 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
10355 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
10356 ,Expressions}.
10357
10358 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
10359 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
10360
10361 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
10362
10363 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
10364 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
10365
10366 @table @code
10367 @cindex break in overloaded functions
10368 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
10369 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
10370 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
10371 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
10372 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
10373
10374 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
10375 @item rbreak @var{regex}
10376 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
10377 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
10378 classes.
10379 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
10380
10381 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
10382 @item catch throw
10383 @itemx catch catch
10384 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
10385 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
10386
10387 @cindex inheritance
10388 @item ptype @var{typename}
10389 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
10390 @var{typename}.
10391 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
10392
10393 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
10394 @item set print demangle
10395 @itemx show print demangle
10396 @itemx set print asm-demangle
10397 @itemx show print asm-demangle
10398 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
10399 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
10400 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
10401
10402 @item set print object
10403 @itemx show print object
10404 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
10405 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
10406
10407 @item set print vtbl
10408 @itemx show print vtbl
10409 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
10410 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
10411 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
10412 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
10413
10414 @kindex set overload-resolution
10415 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
10416 @item set overload-resolution on
10417 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
10418 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
10419 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
10420 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
10421 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
10422 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
10423
10424 @item set overload-resolution off
10425 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
10426 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
10427 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
10428 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
10429 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
10430 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
10431 argument types.
10432
10433 @kindex show overload-resolution
10434 @item show overload-resolution
10435 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
10436
10437 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
10438 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
10439 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
10440 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
10441 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
10442 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
10443 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
10444 @end table
10445
10446 @node Decimal Floating Point
10447 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
10448 @cindex decimal floating point format
10449
10450 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
10451 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
10452 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
10453 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
10454
10455 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
10456 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
10457 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
10458 target.
10459
10460 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
10461 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
10462 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
10463
10464 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
10465 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
10466 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
10467
10468 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
10469 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers. See
10470 @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
10471
10472 @node Objective-C
10473 @subsection Objective-C
10474
10475 @cindex Objective-C
10476 This section provides information about some commands and command
10477 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
10478 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
10479 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
10480
10481 @menu
10482 * Method Names in Commands::
10483 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
10484 @end menu
10485
10486 @node Method Names in Commands
10487 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
10488
10489 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
10490 names as line specifications:
10491
10492 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
10493 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
10494 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
10495 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
10496 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
10497 @itemize
10498 @item @code{clear}
10499 @item @code{break}
10500 @item @code{info line}
10501 @item @code{jump}
10502 @item @code{list}
10503 @end itemize
10504
10505 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
10506
10507 @smallexample
10508 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
10509 @end smallexample
10510
10511 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
10512 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
10513 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
10514 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
10515 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
10516 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
10517 debugged, enter:
10518
10519 @smallexample
10520 break -[Fruit create]
10521 @end smallexample
10522
10523 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
10524 enter:
10525
10526 @smallexample
10527 list +[NSText initialize]
10528 @end smallexample
10529
10530 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
10531 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
10532 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
10533 is also possible to specify just a method name:
10534
10535 @smallexample
10536 break create
10537 @end smallexample
10538
10539 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
10540 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
10541 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
10542 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
10543 none apply.
10544
10545 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
10546 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
10547
10548 @smallexample
10549 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
10550 @end smallexample
10551
10552 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
10553 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
10554 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
10555 @kindex print-object
10556 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
10557
10558 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
10559
10560 @smallexample
10561 print -[@var{object} hash]
10562 @end smallexample
10563
10564 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
10565 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
10566 @noindent
10567 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
10568 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
10569 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
10570 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
10571 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
10572 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
10573
10574 @node Fortran
10575 @subsection Fortran
10576 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
10577
10578 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
10579 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
10580
10581 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
10582 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
10583 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
10584 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
10585 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
10586 underscore.
10587
10588 @menu
10589 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
10590 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
10591 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
10592 @end menu
10593
10594 @node Fortran Operators
10595 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
10596
10597 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
10598
10599 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
10600 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
10601 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
10602
10603 @table @code
10604 @item **
10605 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
10606 of the second one.
10607
10608 @item :
10609 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
10610 represent a section of array.
10611
10612 @item %
10613 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
10614 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
10615 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
10616 union type.
10617 @end table
10618
10619 @node Fortran Defaults
10620 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
10621
10622 @cindex Fortran Defaults
10623
10624 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
10625 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
10626 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
10627 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
10628
10629 @node Special Fortran Commands
10630 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
10631
10632 @cindex Special Fortran commands
10633
10634 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
10635 such as displaying common blocks.
10636
10637 @table @code
10638 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
10639 @kindex info common
10640 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
10641 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
10642 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
10643 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
10644 printed.
10645 @end table
10646
10647 @node Pascal
10648 @subsection Pascal
10649
10650 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
10651 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
10652 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
10653 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
10654 syntax.
10655
10656 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
10657 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
10658 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
10659
10660 @node Modula-2
10661 @subsection Modula-2
10662
10663 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
10664
10665 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
10666 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
10667 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
10668 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
10669 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
10670 table.
10671
10672 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
10673 @menu
10674 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
10675 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
10676 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
10677 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
10678 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
10679 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
10680 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
10681 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
10682 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
10683 @end menu
10684
10685 @node M2 Operators
10686 @subsubsection Operators
10687 @cindex Modula-2 operators
10688
10689 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
10690 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
10691 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
10692 following definitions hold:
10693
10694 @itemize @bullet
10695
10696 @item
10697 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
10698 their subranges.
10699
10700 @item
10701 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
10702
10703 @item
10704 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
10705
10706 @item
10707 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
10708 @var{type}}.
10709
10710 @item
10711 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
10712
10713 @item
10714 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
10715
10716 @item
10717 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
10718 @end itemize
10719
10720 @noindent
10721 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
10722 increasing precedence:
10723
10724 @table @code
10725 @item ,
10726 Function argument or array index separator.
10727
10728 @item :=
10729 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
10730 @var{value}.
10731
10732 @item <@r{, }>
10733 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
10734 types.
10735
10736 @item <=@r{, }>=
10737 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
10738 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
10739 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
10740
10741 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
10742 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
10743 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
10744 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
10745 comment character.
10746
10747 @item IN
10748 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
10749 Same precedence as @code{<}.
10750
10751 @item OR
10752 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
10753
10754 @item AND@r{, }&
10755 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
10756
10757 @item @@
10758 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
10759
10760 @item +@r{, }-
10761 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
10762 and difference on set types.
10763
10764 @item *
10765 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
10766 on set types.
10767
10768 @item /
10769 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
10770 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
10771
10772 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
10773 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
10774 precedence as @code{*}.
10775
10776 @item -
10777 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
10778
10779 @item ^
10780 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
10781
10782 @item NOT
10783 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
10784 @code{^}.
10785
10786 @item .
10787 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
10788 precedence as @code{^}.
10789
10790 @item []
10791 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
10792
10793 @item ()
10794 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
10795 as @code{^}.
10796
10797 @item ::@r{, }.
10798 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
10799 @end table
10800
10801 @quotation
10802 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
10803 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
10804 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
10805 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
10806 @end quotation
10807
10808
10809 @node Built-In Func/Proc
10810 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
10811 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
10812
10813 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
10814 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
10815
10816 @table @var
10817
10818 @item a
10819 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
10820
10821 @item c
10822 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
10823
10824 @item i
10825 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
10826
10827 @item m
10828 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
10829 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
10830 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
10831
10832 @item n
10833 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
10834
10835 @item r
10836 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
10837
10838 @item t
10839 represents a type.
10840
10841 @item v
10842 represents a variable.
10843
10844 @item x
10845 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
10846 explanation of the function for details.
10847 @end table
10848
10849 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
10850
10851 @table @code
10852 @item ABS(@var{n})
10853 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
10854
10855 @item CAP(@var{c})
10856 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
10857 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
10858
10859 @item CHR(@var{i})
10860 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
10861
10862 @item DEC(@var{v})
10863 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
10864
10865 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
10866 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
10867 new value.
10868
10869 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
10870 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
10871 set.
10872
10873 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
10874 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
10875
10876 @item HIGH(@var{a})
10877 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
10878
10879 @item INC(@var{v})
10880 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
10881
10882 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
10883 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
10884 new value.
10885
10886 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
10887 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
10888 there. Returns the new set.
10889
10890 @item MAX(@var{t})
10891 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
10892
10893 @item MIN(@var{t})
10894 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
10895
10896 @item ODD(@var{i})
10897 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
10898
10899 @item ORD(@var{x})
10900 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
10901 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
10902 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
10903 integral, character and enumerated types.
10904
10905 @item SIZE(@var{x})
10906 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
10907
10908 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
10909 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
10910
10911 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
10912 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
10913
10914 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
10915 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
10916 @end table
10917
10918 @quotation
10919 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
10920 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
10921 an error.
10922 @end quotation
10923
10924 @cindex Modula-2 constants
10925 @node M2 Constants
10926 @subsubsection Constants
10927
10928 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
10929 ways:
10930
10931 @itemize @bullet
10932
10933 @item
10934 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
10935 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
10936 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
10937 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
10938
10939 @item
10940 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
10941 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
10942 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
10943 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
10944 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
10945 digits.
10946
10947 @item
10948 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
10949 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
10950 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
10951 followed by a @samp{C}.
10952
10953 @item
10954 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
10955 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
10956 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
10957 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
10958 sequences.
10959
10960 @item
10961 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
10962
10963 @item
10964 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
10965 @code{FALSE}.
10966
10967 @item
10968 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
10969
10970 @item
10971 Set constants are not yet supported.
10972 @end itemize
10973
10974 @node M2 Types
10975 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
10976 @cindex Modula-2 types
10977
10978 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
10979 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
10980 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
10981 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
10982 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
10983 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
10984
10985 The first example contains the following section of code:
10986
10987 @smallexample
10988 VAR
10989 s: SET OF CHAR ;
10990 r: [20..40] ;
10991 @end smallexample
10992
10993 @noindent
10994 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
10995 @code{r} and @code{s}.
10996
10997 @smallexample
10998 (@value{GDBP}) print s
10999 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
11000 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11001 SET OF CHAR
11002 (@value{GDBP}) print r
11003 21
11004 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
11005 [20..40]
11006 @end smallexample
11007
11008 @noindent
11009 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
11010
11011 @smallexample
11012 VAR
11013 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
11014 @end smallexample
11015
11016 @noindent
11017 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
11018
11019 @smallexample
11020 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11021 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
11022 @end smallexample
11023
11024 @noindent
11025 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
11026 expressions using the debugger.
11027
11028 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
11029 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
11030
11031 @smallexample
11032 VAR
11033 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
11034 @end smallexample
11035
11036 @smallexample
11037 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11038 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
11039 @end smallexample
11040
11041 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
11042 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
11043 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
11044 above.
11045
11046 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
11047
11048 @smallexample
11049 TYPE
11050 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
11051 t = [blue..yellow] ;
11052 VAR
11053 s: t ;
11054 BEGIN
11055 s := blue ;
11056 @end smallexample
11057
11058 @noindent
11059 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
11060 and value of a variable.
11061
11062 @smallexample
11063 (@value{GDBP}) print s
11064 $1 = blue
11065 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
11066 type = [blue..yellow]
11067 @end smallexample
11068
11069 @noindent
11070 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
11071 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
11072 their @code{C} counterparts.
11073
11074 @smallexample
11075 VAR
11076 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
11077 BEGIN
11078 s[1] := 1 ;
11079 @end smallexample
11080
11081 @smallexample
11082 (@value{GDBP}) print s
11083 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
11084 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11085 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
11086 @end smallexample
11087
11088 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
11089 pointer types as shown in this example:
11090
11091 @smallexample
11092 VAR
11093 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
11094 BEGIN
11095 NEW(s) ;
11096 s^[1] := 1 ;
11097 @end smallexample
11098
11099 @noindent
11100 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
11101
11102 @smallexample
11103 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11104 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
11105 @end smallexample
11106
11107 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
11108 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
11109 types:
11110
11111 @smallexample
11112 TYPE
11113 foo = RECORD
11114 f1: CARDINAL ;
11115 f2: CHAR ;
11116 f3: myarray ;
11117 END ;
11118
11119 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
11120 myrange = [-2..2] ;
11121 VAR
11122 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
11123 @end smallexample
11124
11125 @noindent
11126 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
11127 below.
11128
11129 @smallexample
11130 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11131 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
11132 f1 : CARDINAL;
11133 f2 : CHAR;
11134 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
11135 END
11136 @end smallexample
11137
11138 @node M2 Defaults
11139 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
11140 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
11141
11142 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
11143 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
11144 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11145 selected the working language.
11146
11147 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
11148 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
11149 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
11150 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
11151
11152 @node Deviations
11153 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
11154 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
11155
11156 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
11157 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
11158
11159 @itemize @bullet
11160 @item
11161 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
11162 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
11163 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
11164 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
11165 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
11166 returned a pointer.)
11167
11168 @item
11169 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
11170 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
11171 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
11172 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
11173
11174 @item
11175 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
11176 argument.
11177
11178 @item
11179 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
11180 @end itemize
11181
11182 @node M2 Checks
11183 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
11184 @cindex Modula-2 checks
11185
11186 @quotation
11187 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
11188 range checking.
11189 @end quotation
11190 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
11191
11192 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
11193
11194 @itemize @bullet
11195 @item
11196 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
11197 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
11198
11199 @item
11200 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
11201 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
11202 @end itemize
11203
11204 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
11205 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
11206
11207 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
11208 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
11209
11210 @node M2 Scope
11211 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
11212 @cindex scope
11213 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
11214 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
11215 @ifinfo
11216 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
11217 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
11218 @end ifinfo
11219 @ifnotinfo
11220 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
11221 @end ifnotinfo
11222
11223 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
11224 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
11225 similar syntax:
11226
11227 @smallexample
11228
11229 @var{module} . @var{id}
11230 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
11231 @end smallexample
11232
11233 @noindent
11234 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
11235 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
11236 identifier within your program, except another module.
11237
11238 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
11239 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
11240 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
11241 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
11242
11243 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
11244 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
11245 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
11246 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
11247 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
11248 @var{module}.
11249
11250 @node GDB/M2
11251 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
11252
11253 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
11254 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
11255 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
11256 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
11257 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
11258 analogue in Modula-2.
11259
11260 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
11261 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
11262 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
11263 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
11264 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
11265 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
11266
11267 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
11268 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
11269 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
11270
11271 @node Ada
11272 @subsection Ada
11273 @cindex Ada
11274
11275 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
11276 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
11277 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
11278 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
11279 to be difficult.
11280
11281
11282 @cindex expressions in Ada
11283 @menu
11284 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
11285 and semantics supported by Ada mode
11286 in @value{GDBN}.
11287 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
11288 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
11289 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
11290 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
11291 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
11292 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
11293 @end menu
11294
11295 @node Ada Mode Intro
11296 @subsubsection Introduction
11297 @cindex Ada mode, general
11298
11299 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
11300 syntax, with some extensions.
11301 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
11302
11303 @itemize @bullet
11304 @item
11305 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
11306 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
11307 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
11308 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
11309
11310 @item
11311 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
11312 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
11313
11314 @item
11315 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
11316 @end itemize
11317
11318 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
11319 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
11320 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
11321 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
11322 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
11323
11324 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
11325 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
11326 was translated from an Ada source file.
11327
11328 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
11329 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
11330 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
11331 middle (to allow based literals).
11332
11333 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
11334 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
11335 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
11336 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
11337 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
11338 functions to procedures elsewhere.
11339
11340 @node Omissions from Ada
11341 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
11342 @cindex Ada, omissions from
11343
11344 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
11345
11346 @itemize @bullet
11347 @item
11348 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
11349
11350 @itemize @minus
11351 @item
11352 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
11353 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
11354
11355 @item
11356 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
11357
11358 @item
11359 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
11360
11361 @item
11362 @t{'Tag}.
11363
11364 @item
11365 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
11366 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
11367
11368 @item
11369 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
11370 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
11371
11372 @item
11373 @t{'Address}.
11374 @end itemize
11375
11376 @item
11377 The names in
11378 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
11379 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
11380 not currently available.
11381
11382 @item
11383 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
11384 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
11385 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
11386 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
11387 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
11388 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
11389 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
11390 indeterminate values.
11391
11392 @item
11393 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
11394 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
11395 are not implemented.
11396
11397 @item
11398 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
11399 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
11400 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
11401 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
11402 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
11403
11404 @smallexample
11405 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
11406 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
11407 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
11408 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
11409 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
11410 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
11411 @end smallexample
11412
11413 Changing a
11414 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
11415 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
11416 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
11417 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
11418 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
11419 declared to have a type such as:
11420
11421 @smallexample
11422 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
11423 Id : Integer;
11424 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
11425 end record;
11426 @end smallexample
11427
11428 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
11429 assignments:
11430
11431 @smallexample
11432 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
11433 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
11434 @end smallexample
11435
11436 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
11437 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
11438 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
11439 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
11440 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
11441 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
11442 redundant component associations, although which component values are
11443 assigned in such cases is not defined.
11444
11445 @item
11446 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
11447
11448 @item
11449 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
11450 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
11451 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
11452 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
11453 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
11454 the proper resolution.
11455
11456 @item
11457 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
11458
11459 @item
11460 Entry calls are not implemented.
11461
11462 @item
11463 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
11464 formats are not supported.
11465
11466 @item
11467 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
11468
11469 @item
11470 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
11471 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
11472 context.
11473 Should your program
11474 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
11475 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
11476 @end itemize
11477
11478 @node Additions to Ada
11479 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
11480 @cindex Ada, deviations from
11481
11482 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
11483 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
11484
11485 @itemize @bullet
11486 @item
11487 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
11488 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
11489 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
11490 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
11491 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
11492 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
11493 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
11494 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
11495
11496 @item
11497 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
11498 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
11499 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
11500
11501 @item
11502 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
11503 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
11504
11505 @item
11506 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
11507 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
11508 @end itemize
11509
11510 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
11511 additions specific to Ada:
11512
11513 @itemize @bullet
11514 @item
11515 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
11516 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
11517
11518 @smallexample
11519 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
11520 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
11521 @end smallexample
11522
11523 @item
11524 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
11525 the value of its right-hand operand.
11526 This allows, for example,
11527 complex conditional breaks:
11528
11529 @smallexample
11530 (@value{GDBP}) break f
11531 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
11532 @end smallexample
11533
11534 @item
11535 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
11536 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
11537 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
11538 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
11539 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
11540 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
11541 in strings. For example,
11542 @smallexample
11543 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
11544 @end smallexample
11545 @noindent
11546 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
11547 after each period.
11548
11549 @item
11550 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
11551 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
11552 to write
11553
11554 @smallexample
11555 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
11556 @end smallexample
11557
11558 @item
11559 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
11560 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
11561 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
11562 of 3 might print as
11563
11564 @smallexample
11565 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
11566 @end smallexample
11567
11568 @noindent
11569 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
11570 clause.
11571
11572 @item
11573 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
11574 multi-character subsequence of
11575 their names (an exact match gets preference).
11576 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
11577 in place of @t{a'length}.
11578
11579 @item
11580 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
11581 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
11582 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
11583 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
11584 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
11585 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
11586 For example,
11587 @smallexample
11588 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
11589 @end smallexample
11590
11591 @item
11592 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
11593 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
11594 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
11595 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
11596 object.
11597
11598 @end itemize
11599
11600 @node Stopping Before Main Program
11601 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
11602
11603 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
11604 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
11605 before reaching the main procedure.
11606 As defined in the Ada Reference
11607 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
11608 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
11609 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
11610 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
11611
11612 @node Ada Tasks
11613 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
11614 @cindex Ada, tasking
11615
11616 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
11617 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
11618
11619 @table @code
11620 @kindex info tasks
11621 @item info tasks
11622 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
11623
11624
11625 @smallexample
11626 @iftex
11627 @leftskip=0.5cm
11628 @end iftex
11629 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
11630 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
11631 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
11632 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
11633 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
11634 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
11635
11636 @end smallexample
11637
11638 @noindent
11639 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
11640 task currently being inspected.
11641
11642 @table @asis
11643 @item ID
11644 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
11645
11646 @item TID
11647 The Ada task ID.
11648
11649 @item P-ID
11650 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
11651
11652 @item Pri
11653 The base priority of the task.
11654
11655 @item State
11656 Current state of the task.
11657
11658 @table @code
11659 @item Unactivated
11660 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
11661 executing.
11662
11663 @item Runnable
11664 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
11665 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
11666
11667 @item Terminated
11668 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
11669 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
11670 terminated themselves.
11671
11672 @item Child Activation Wait
11673 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
11674
11675 @item Accept Statement
11676 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
11677
11678 @item Waiting on entry call
11679 The task is waiting on an entry call.
11680
11681 @item Async Select Wait
11682 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
11683 select statement.
11684
11685 @item Delay Sleep
11686 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
11687 alternative open.
11688
11689 @item Child Termination Wait
11690 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
11691 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
11692 waiting on a terminate Phase.
11693
11694 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
11695 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
11696 finish terminating.
11697
11698 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
11699 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
11700 @end table
11701
11702 @item Name
11703 Name of the task in the program.
11704
11705 @end table
11706
11707 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
11708 @item info task @var{taskno}
11709 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
11710 the following example:
11711 @smallexample
11712 @iftex
11713 @leftskip=0.5cm
11714 @end iftex
11715 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
11716 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
11717 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
11718 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
11719 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
11720 Ada Task: 0x807c468
11721 Name: task_1
11722 Thread: 0x807f378
11723 Parent: 1 (main_task)
11724 Base Priority: 15
11725 State: Runnable
11726 @end smallexample
11727
11728 @item task
11729 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
11730 @cindex current Ada task ID
11731 This command prints the ID of the current task.
11732
11733 @smallexample
11734 @iftex
11735 @leftskip=0.5cm
11736 @end iftex
11737 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
11738 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
11739 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
11740 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
11741 (@value{GDBP}) task
11742 [Current task is 2]
11743 @end smallexample
11744
11745 @item task @var{taskno}
11746 @cindex Ada task switching
11747 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
11748 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
11749 from the current task to the given task.
11750
11751 @smallexample
11752 @iftex
11753 @leftskip=0.5cm
11754 @end iftex
11755 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
11756 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
11757 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
11758 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
11759 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
11760 [Switching to task 1]
11761 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
11762 (@value{GDBP}) bt
11763 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
11764 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
11765 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
11766 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
11767 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
11768 @end smallexample
11769
11770 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
11771 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
11772 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
11773 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
11774 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
11775 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
11776 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
11777 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
11778 in @ref{Specify Location}.
11779
11780 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
11781 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
11782 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
11783 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
11784 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
11785
11786 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
11787 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
11788 program.
11789
11790 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
11791 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
11792 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
11793
11794 For example,
11795
11796 @smallexample
11797 @iftex
11798 @leftskip=0.5cm
11799 @end iftex
11800 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
11801 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
11802 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
11803 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
11804 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
11805 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
11806 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
11807 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
11808 (@value{GDBP}) cont
11809 Continuing.
11810 task # 1 running
11811 task # 2 running
11812
11813 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
11814 15 flush;
11815 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
11816 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
11817 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
11818 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
11819 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
11820 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
11821 @end smallexample
11822 @end table
11823
11824 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
11825 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
11826 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
11827
11828 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
11829 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
11830 the platform being used.
11831 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
11832 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
11833 as usual.
11834
11835 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
11836 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
11837 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
11838 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
11839 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
11840 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
11841
11842 @node Ada Glitches
11843 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
11844 @cindex Ada, problems
11845
11846 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
11847 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
11848 @value{GDBN},
11849 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
11850 and the GNU Ada compiler.
11851
11852 @itemize @bullet
11853 @item
11854 Currently, the debugger
11855 has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
11856 pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
11857 Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
11858 to get it printed properly.
11859
11860 @item
11861 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
11862 storage are invisible to the debugger.
11863
11864 @item
11865 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
11866 argument lists are treated as positional).
11867
11868 @item
11869 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
11870
11871 @item
11872 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
11873 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
11874 the host machine.
11875
11876 @item
11877 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
11878 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
11879 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
11880 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
11881 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
11882 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
11883 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
11884 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
11885 you can usually resolve the confusion
11886 by qualifying the problematic names with package
11887 @code{Standard} explicitly.
11888 @end itemize
11889
11890 @node Unsupported Languages
11891 @section Unsupported Languages
11892
11893 @cindex unsupported languages
11894 @cindex minimal language
11895 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
11896 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
11897 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
11898 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
11899 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
11900 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
11901
11902 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
11903 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
11904 language.
11905
11906 @node Symbols
11907 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
11908
11909 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
11910 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
11911 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
11912 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
11913 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
11914 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
11915 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
11916
11917 @cindex symbol names
11918 @cindex names of symbols
11919 @cindex quoting names
11920 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
11921 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
11922 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
11923 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
11924 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
11925 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
11926 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
11927 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
11928
11929 @smallexample
11930 p 'foo.c'::x
11931 @end smallexample
11932
11933 @noindent
11934 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
11935
11936 @table @code
11937 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
11938 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
11939 @kindex set case-sensitive
11940 @item set case-sensitive on
11941 @itemx set case-sensitive off
11942 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
11943 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
11944 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
11945 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
11946 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
11947 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
11948 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
11949 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
11950 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
11951 case-insensitive matches.
11952
11953 @kindex show case-sensitive
11954 @item show case-sensitive
11955 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
11956 lookups.
11957
11958 @kindex info address
11959 @cindex address of a symbol
11960 @item info address @var{symbol}
11961 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
11962 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
11963 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
11964 is always stored.
11965
11966 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
11967 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
11968 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
11969
11970 @kindex info symbol
11971 @cindex symbol from address
11972 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
11973 @item info symbol @var{addr}
11974 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
11975 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
11976 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
11977
11978 @smallexample
11979 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
11980 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
11981 @end smallexample
11982
11983 @noindent
11984 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
11985 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
11986
11987 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
11988 library containing the symbol is also printed:
11989
11990 @smallexample
11991 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
11992 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
11993 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
11994 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
11995 @end smallexample
11996
11997 @kindex whatis
11998 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
11999 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
12000 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
12001 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
12002 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
12003 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
12004 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
12005 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
12006 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
12007 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
12008 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
12009
12010 @kindex ptype
12011 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
12012 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
12013 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
12014 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
12015
12016 For example, for this variable declaration:
12017
12018 @smallexample
12019 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
12020 @end smallexample
12021
12022 @noindent
12023 the two commands give this output:
12024
12025 @smallexample
12026 @group
12027 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
12028 type = struct complex
12029 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
12030 type = struct complex @{
12031 double real;
12032 double imag;
12033 @}
12034 @end group
12035 @end smallexample
12036
12037 @noindent
12038 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
12039 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
12040
12041 @cindex incomplete type
12042 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
12043 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
12044 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
12045 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
12046 given these declarations:
12047
12048 @smallexample
12049 struct foo;
12050 struct foo *fooptr;
12051 @end smallexample
12052
12053 @noindent
12054 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
12055
12056 @smallexample
12057 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
12058 $1 = <incomplete type>
12059 @end smallexample
12060
12061 @noindent
12062 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
12063 completely specified.
12064
12065 @kindex info types
12066 @item info types @var{regexp}
12067 @itemx info types
12068 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
12069 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
12070 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
12071 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
12072 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
12073 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
12074 name is @code{value}.
12075
12076 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
12077 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
12078 lists all source files where a type is defined.
12079
12080 @kindex info scope
12081 @cindex local variables
12082 @item info scope @var{location}
12083 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
12084 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
12085 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
12086 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
12087 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
12088
12089 @smallexample
12090 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
12091 Scope for command_line_handler:
12092 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
12093 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
12094 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
12095 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
12096 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
12097 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
12098 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
12099 @end smallexample
12100
12101 @noindent
12102 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
12103 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
12104 collect}.
12105
12106 @kindex info source
12107 @item info source
12108 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
12109 the function containing the current point of execution:
12110 @itemize @bullet
12111 @item
12112 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
12113 @item
12114 the directory it was compiled in,
12115 @item
12116 its length, in lines,
12117 @item
12118 which programming language it is written in,
12119 @item
12120 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
12121 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
12122 @item
12123 whether the debugging information includes information about
12124 preprocessor macros.
12125 @end itemize
12126
12127
12128 @kindex info sources
12129 @item info sources
12130 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
12131 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
12132 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
12133
12134 @kindex info functions
12135 @item info functions
12136 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
12137
12138 @item info functions @var{regexp}
12139 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
12140 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
12141 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
12142 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
12143 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
12144 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
12145 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
12146
12147 @kindex info variables
12148 @item info variables
12149 Print the names and data types of all variables that are declared
12150 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
12151
12152 @item info variables @var{regexp}
12153 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
12154 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
12155 @var{regexp}.
12156
12157 @kindex info classes
12158 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
12159 @item info classes
12160 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
12161 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
12162 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
12163 expression.
12164
12165 @kindex info selectors
12166 @item info selectors
12167 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
12168 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
12169 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
12170 expression.
12171
12172 @ignore
12173 This was never implemented.
12174 @kindex info methods
12175 @item info methods
12176 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
12177 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
12178 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
12179 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
12180 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
12181 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
12182 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
12183 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
12184 @end ignore
12185
12186 @cindex reloading symbols
12187 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
12188 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
12189 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
12190 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
12191 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
12192
12193 @table @code
12194 @kindex set symbol-reloading
12195 @item set symbol-reloading on
12196 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
12197 object file with a particular name is seen again.
12198
12199 @item set symbol-reloading off
12200 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
12201 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
12202 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
12203 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
12204 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
12205 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
12206 name.
12207
12208 @kindex show symbol-reloading
12209 @item show symbol-reloading
12210 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
12211 @end table
12212
12213 @cindex opaque data types
12214 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
12215 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
12216 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
12217 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
12218 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
12219 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
12220 another source file. The default is on.
12221
12222 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
12223 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
12224
12225 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
12226 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
12227 is printed as follows:
12228 @smallexample
12229 @{<no data fields>@}
12230 @end smallexample
12231
12232 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
12233 @item show opaque-type-resolution
12234 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
12235
12236 @kindex set print symbol-loading
12237 @cindex print messages when symbols are loaded
12238 @item set print symbol-loading
12239 @itemx set print symbol-loading on
12240 @itemx set print symbol-loading off
12241 The @code{set print symbol-loading} command allows you to enable or
12242 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} loads symbols.
12243 By default, these messages will be printed, and normally this is what
12244 you want. Disabling these messages is useful when debugging applications
12245 with lots of shared libraries where the quantity of output can be more
12246 annoying than useful.
12247
12248 @kindex show print symbol-loading
12249 @item show print symbol-loading
12250 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} loads symbols.
12251
12252 @kindex maint print symbols
12253 @cindex symbol dump
12254 @kindex maint print psymbols
12255 @cindex partial symbol dump
12256 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
12257 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
12258 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
12259 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
12260 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
12261 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
12262 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
12263 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
12264 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
12265 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
12266 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
12267 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
12268 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
12269 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
12270 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
12271 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
12272 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
12273
12274 @kindex maint info symtabs
12275 @kindex maint info psymtabs
12276 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
12277 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
12278 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
12279 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
12280 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
12281 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
12282
12283 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
12284 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
12285 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
12286 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
12287 structure in more detail. For example:
12288
12289 @smallexample
12290 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
12291 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
12292 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
12293 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
12294 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
12295 readin no
12296 fullname (null)
12297 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
12298 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
12299 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
12300 dependencies (none)
12301 @}
12302 @}
12303 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
12304 (@value{GDBP})
12305 @end smallexample
12306 @noindent
12307 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
12308 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
12309 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
12310 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
12311 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
12312
12313 @smallexample
12314 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
12315 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
12316 line 1574.
12317 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
12318 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
12319 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
12320 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
12321 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
12322 dirname (null)
12323 fullname (null)
12324 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
12325 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
12326 debugformat DWARF 2
12327 @}
12328 @}
12329 (@value{GDBP})
12330 @end smallexample
12331 @end table
12332
12333
12334 @node Altering
12335 @chapter Altering Execution
12336
12337 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
12338 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
12339 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
12340 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
12341 program.
12342
12343 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
12344 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
12345 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
12346
12347 @menu
12348 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
12349 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
12350 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
12351 * Returning:: Returning from a function
12352 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
12353 * Patching:: Patching your program
12354 @end menu
12355
12356 @node Assignment
12357 @section Assignment to Variables
12358
12359 @cindex assignment
12360 @cindex setting variables
12361 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
12362 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
12363
12364 @smallexample
12365 print x=4
12366 @end smallexample
12367
12368 @noindent
12369 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
12370 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
12371 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
12372 information on operators in supported languages.
12373
12374 @kindex set variable
12375 @cindex variables, setting
12376 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
12377 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
12378 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
12379 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
12380 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
12381
12382 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
12383 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
12384 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
12385 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
12386 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
12387 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
12388 command @code{set width}:
12389
12390 @smallexample
12391 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
12392 type = double
12393 (@value{GDBP}) p width
12394 $4 = 13
12395 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
12396 Invalid syntax in expression.
12397 @end smallexample
12398
12399 @noindent
12400 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
12401 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
12402
12403 @smallexample
12404 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
12405 @end smallexample
12406
12407 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
12408 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
12409 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
12410 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
12411 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
12412 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
12413
12414 @smallexample
12415 @group
12416 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
12417 type = double
12418 (@value{GDBP}) p g
12419 $1 = 1
12420 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
12421 (@value{GDBP}) p g
12422 $2 = 1
12423 (@value{GDBP}) r
12424 The program being debugged has been started already.
12425 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
12426 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
12427 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
12428 Invalid bfd target.
12429 (@value{GDBP}) show g
12430 The current BFD target is "=4".
12431 @end group
12432 @end smallexample
12433
12434 @noindent
12435 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
12436 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
12437 @code{g}, use
12438
12439 @smallexample
12440 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
12441 @end smallexample
12442
12443 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
12444 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
12445 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
12446 same length or shorter.
12447 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
12448 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
12449
12450 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
12451 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
12452 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
12453 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
12454 and representation in memory), and
12455
12456 @smallexample
12457 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
12458 @end smallexample
12459
12460 @noindent
12461 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
12462
12463 @node Jumping
12464 @section Continuing at a Different Address
12465
12466 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
12467 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
12468 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
12469
12470 @table @code
12471 @kindex jump
12472 @item jump @var{linespec}
12473 @itemx jump @var{location}
12474 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
12475 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
12476 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
12477 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
12478 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
12479 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
12480
12481 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
12482 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
12483 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
12484 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
12485 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
12486 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
12487 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
12488 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
12489 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
12490 @end table
12491
12492 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
12493 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
12494 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
12495 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
12496 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
12497 example,
12498
12499 @smallexample
12500 set $pc = 0x485
12501 @end smallexample
12502
12503 @noindent
12504 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
12505 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
12506 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
12507
12508 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
12509 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
12510 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
12511 detail.
12512
12513 @c @group
12514 @node Signaling
12515 @section Giving your Program a Signal
12516 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
12517
12518 @table @code
12519 @kindex signal
12520 @item signal @var{signal}
12521 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
12522 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
12523 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
12524 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
12525
12526 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
12527 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
12528 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
12529 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
12530 signal.
12531
12532 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
12533 after executing the command.
12534 @end table
12535 @c @end group
12536
12537 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
12538 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
12539 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
12540 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
12541 passes the signal directly to your program.
12542
12543
12544 @node Returning
12545 @section Returning from a Function
12546
12547 @table @code
12548 @cindex returning from a function
12549 @kindex return
12550 @item return
12551 @itemx return @var{expression}
12552 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
12553 command. If you give an
12554 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
12555 value.
12556 @end table
12557
12558 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
12559 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
12560 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
12561 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
12562
12563 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
12564 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
12565 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
12566 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
12567 of functions.
12568
12569 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
12570 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
12571 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
12572 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
12573 selected stack frame returns naturally.
12574
12575 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
12576 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
12577 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
12578 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
12579 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
12580 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
12581 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
12582 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
12583 assignment into the right register(s).
12584
12585 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
12586 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
12587 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
12588 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
12589 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
12590 into a @code{long long int}:
12591
12592 @smallexample
12593 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
12594 29 return 31;
12595 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
12596 Make func return now? (y or n) y
12597 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
12598 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
12599 (@value{GDBP})
12600 @end smallexample
12601
12602 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
12603 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
12604 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
12605 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
12606 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
12607 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
12608 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
12609 an appropriate cast explicitly:
12610
12611 @smallexample
12612 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
12613 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
12614 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
12615 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
12616 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
12617 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
12618 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
12619 (@value{GDBP})
12620 @end smallexample
12621
12622 @node Calling
12623 @section Calling Program Functions
12624
12625 @table @code
12626 @cindex calling functions
12627 @cindex inferior functions, calling
12628 @item print @var{expr}
12629 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
12630 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
12631 debugged.
12632
12633 @kindex call
12634 @item call @var{expr}
12635 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
12636 returned values.
12637
12638 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
12639 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
12640 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
12641 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
12642 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
12643 value history.
12644 @end table
12645
12646 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
12647 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
12648 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
12649 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
12650
12651 @table @code
12652 @item set unwindonsignal
12653 @kindex set unwindonsignal
12654 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
12655 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
12656 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
12657 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
12658 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
12659 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
12660 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
12661 received.
12662
12663 @item show unwindonsignal
12664 @kindex show unwindonsignal
12665 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
12666 @value{GDBN}.
12667 @end table
12668
12669 @cindex weak alias functions
12670 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
12671 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
12672 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
12673 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
12674 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
12675 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
12676 function instead.
12677
12678 @node Patching
12679 @section Patching Programs
12680
12681 @cindex patching binaries
12682 @cindex writing into executables
12683 @cindex writing into corefiles
12684
12685 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
12686 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
12687 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
12688 patching your program's binary.
12689
12690 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
12691 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
12692 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
12693 repairs.
12694
12695 @table @code
12696 @kindex set write
12697 @item set write on
12698 @itemx set write off
12699 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
12700 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
12701 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
12702
12703 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
12704 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
12705 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
12706
12707 @item show write
12708 @kindex show write
12709 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
12710 as well as reading.
12711 @end table
12712
12713 @node GDB Files
12714 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
12715
12716 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
12717 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
12718 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
12719 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
12720
12721 @menu
12722 * Files:: Commands to specify files
12723 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
12724 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
12725 @end menu
12726
12727 @node Files
12728 @section Commands to Specify Files
12729
12730 @cindex symbol table
12731 @cindex core dump file
12732
12733 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
12734 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
12735 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
12736 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
12737
12738 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
12739 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
12740 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
12741 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
12742 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
12743 new files are useful.
12744
12745 @table @code
12746 @cindex executable file
12747 @kindex file
12748 @item file @var{filename}
12749 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
12750 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
12751 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
12752 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
12753 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
12754 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
12755 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
12756 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
12757
12758 @cindex unlinked object files
12759 @cindex patching object files
12760 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
12761 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
12762 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
12763 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
12764 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
12765 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
12766 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
12767 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
12768
12769 @item file
12770 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
12771 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
12772
12773 @kindex exec-file
12774 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
12775 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
12776 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
12777 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
12778 discard information on the executable file.
12779
12780 @kindex symbol-file
12781 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
12782 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
12783 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
12784 table and program to run from the same file.
12785
12786 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
12787 program's symbol table.
12788
12789 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
12790 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
12791 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
12792 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
12793 @value{GDBN}.
12794
12795 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
12796 executing it once.
12797
12798 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
12799 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
12800 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
12801 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
12802 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
12803 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
12804 optimized code.
12805
12806 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
12807 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
12808 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
12809 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
12810 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
12811
12812 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
12813 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
12814 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
12815 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
12816 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
12817 Warnings and Messages}.)
12818
12819 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
12820 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
12821 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
12822 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
12823 in stabs format.
12824
12825 @kindex readnow
12826 @cindex reading symbols immediately
12827 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
12828 @item symbol-file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
12829 @itemx file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
12830 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
12831 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
12832 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
12833 entire symbol table available.
12834
12835 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
12836 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
12837 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
12838 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
12839 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
12840 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
12841 @c files.
12842
12843 @kindex core-file
12844 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
12845 @itemx core
12846 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
12847 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
12848 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
12849 executable file itself for other parts.
12850
12851 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
12852 to be used.
12853
12854 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
12855 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
12856 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
12857 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
12858 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
12859
12860 @kindex add-symbol-file
12861 @cindex dynamic linking
12862 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
12863 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
12864 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
12865 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
12866 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
12867 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
12868 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
12869 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
12870 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
12871 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
12872 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
12873 @var{address} as an expression.
12874
12875 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
12876 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
12877 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
12878 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
12879 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
12880
12881 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
12882 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
12883 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
12884 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
12885 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
12886 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
12887 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
12888 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
12889 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
12890
12891 @itemize @bullet
12892 @item
12893 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
12894 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
12895 @item
12896 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
12897 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
12898 @item
12899 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
12900 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
12901 @end itemize
12902
12903 @noindent
12904 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
12905 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
12906 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
12907 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
12908 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
12909 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
12910 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
12911 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
12912 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
12913 way.
12914
12915 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
12916
12917 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
12918 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
12919 @cindex load symbols from memory
12920 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
12921 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
12922 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
12923 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
12924 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
12925 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
12926 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
12927 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
12928 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
12929
12930 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
12931 @kindex assf
12932 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
12933 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
12934 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
12935 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
12936 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
12937 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
12938 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
12939 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
12940 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
12941 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
12942
12943 @kindex section
12944 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
12945 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
12946 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
12947 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
12948 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
12949 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
12950 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
12951 their addresses.
12952
12953 @kindex info files
12954 @kindex info target
12955 @item info files
12956 @itemx info target
12957 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
12958 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
12959 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
12960 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
12961 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
12962 current ones.
12963
12964 @kindex maint info sections
12965 @item maint info sections
12966 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
12967 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
12968 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
12969 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
12970 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
12971 may be arbitrarily combined):
12972
12973 @table @code
12974 @item ALLOBJ
12975 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
12976 @item @var{sections}
12977 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
12978 @item @var{section-flags}
12979 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
12980 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
12981 @table @code
12982 @item ALLOC
12983 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
12984 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
12985 @item LOAD
12986 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
12987 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
12988 @item RELOC
12989 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
12990 @item READONLY
12991 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
12992 @item CODE
12993 Section contains executable code only.
12994 @item DATA
12995 Section contains data only (no executable code).
12996 @item ROM
12997 Section will reside in ROM.
12998 @item CONSTRUCTOR
12999 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
13000 @item HAS_CONTENTS
13001 Section is not empty.
13002 @item NEVER_LOAD
13003 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
13004 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
13005 A notification to the linker that the section contains
13006 COFF shared library information.
13007 @item IS_COMMON
13008 Section contains common symbols.
13009 @end table
13010 @end table
13011 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
13012 @cindex read-only sections
13013 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
13014 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
13015 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
13016 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
13017 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
13018 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
13019 enhancement to debugging performance.
13020
13021 The default is off.
13022
13023 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
13024 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
13025 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
13026 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
13027
13028 @item show trust-readonly-sections
13029 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
13030 @end table
13031
13032 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
13033 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
13034 name and remembers it that way.
13035
13036 @cindex shared libraries
13037 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
13038 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
13039 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
13040
13041 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
13042 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
13043
13044 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
13045 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
13046 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
13047 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
13048 debugging a core file).
13049
13050 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
13051 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
13052
13053 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
13054 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
13055 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
13056
13057 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
13058 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
13059 particularly large or there are many of them.
13060
13061 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
13062 commands:
13063
13064 @table @code
13065 @kindex set auto-solib-add
13066 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
13067 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
13068 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
13069 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
13070 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
13071 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
13072 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
13073
13074 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
13075 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
13076 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
13077 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
13078 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
13079 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
13080 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
13081 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
13082 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
13083
13084 @kindex show auto-solib-add
13085 @item show auto-solib-add
13086 Display the current autoloading mode.
13087 @end table
13088
13089 @cindex load shared library
13090 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
13091 command:
13092
13093 @table @code
13094 @kindex info sharedlibrary
13095 @kindex info share
13096 @item info share
13097 @itemx info sharedlibrary
13098 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded.
13099
13100 @kindex sharedlibrary
13101 @kindex share
13102 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
13103 @itemx share @var{regex}
13104 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
13105 Unix regular expression.
13106 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
13107 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
13108 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
13109 loaded.
13110
13111 @item nosharedlibrary
13112 @kindex nosharedlibrary
13113 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
13114 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
13115 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
13116 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
13117 discarded.
13118 @end table
13119
13120 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
13121 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
13122 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
13123
13124 @table @code
13125 @item set stop-on-solib-events
13126 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
13127 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
13128 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
13129 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
13130 shared library.
13131
13132 @item show stop-on-solib-events
13133 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
13134 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
13135 library events happen.
13136 @end table
13137
13138 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
13139 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
13140 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
13141 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
13142 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
13143 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
13144 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
13145 not.
13146
13147 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
13148 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
13149 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
13150 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
13151 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
13152
13153 @table @code
13154 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
13155 @cindex system root, alternate
13156 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
13157 @kindex set sysroot
13158 @item set sysroot @var{path}
13159 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
13160 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
13161 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
13162 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
13163 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
13164 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
13165 under @var{path}.
13166
13167 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
13168 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
13169 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
13170 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
13171 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
13172 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
13173 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
13174 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
13175 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
13176
13177 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
13178 sysroot}.
13179
13180 @cindex default system root
13181 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
13182 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
13183 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
13184 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
13185 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
13186 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
13187 location.
13188
13189 @kindex show sysroot
13190 @item show sysroot
13191 Display the current shared library prefix.
13192
13193 @kindex set solib-search-path
13194 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
13195 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
13196 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
13197 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
13198 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
13199 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
13200 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
13201 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
13202 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
13203 of shared library symbols.
13204
13205 @kindex show solib-search-path
13206 @item show solib-search-path
13207 Display the current shared library search path.
13208 @end table
13209
13210
13211 @node Separate Debug Files
13212 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
13213 @cindex separate debugging information files
13214 @cindex debugging information in separate files
13215 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
13216 @cindex debugging information directory, global
13217 @cindex global debugging information directory
13218 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
13219 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
13220
13221 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
13222 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
13223 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
13224 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
13225 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
13226 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
13227 install only when they need to debug a problem.
13228
13229 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
13230 file:
13231
13232 @itemize @bullet
13233 @item
13234 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
13235 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
13236 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
13237 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
13238 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
13239 debug link specifies a CRC32 checksum for the debug file, which
13240 @value{GDBN} uses to validate that the executable and the debug file
13241 came from the same build.
13242
13243 @item
13244 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
13245 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
13246 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
13247 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
13248 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
13249 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
13250 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
13251 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
13252 below.
13253 @end itemize
13254
13255 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
13256 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
13257
13258 @itemize @bullet
13259 @item
13260 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
13261 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
13262 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
13263 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
13264 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
13265
13266 @item
13267 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
13268 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
13269 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
13270 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
13271 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
13272 hex characters, not 10.)
13273 @end itemize
13274
13275 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
13276 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
13277 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
13278 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
13279 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
13280 debug information files, in the indicated order:
13281
13282 @itemize @minus
13283 @item
13284 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
13285 @item
13286 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
13287 @item
13288 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
13289 @item
13290 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
13291 @end itemize
13292
13293 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
13294 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
13295
13296 @table @code
13297
13298 @kindex set debug-file-directory
13299 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directory}
13300 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
13301 information files to @var{directory}.
13302
13303 @kindex show debug-file-directory
13304 @item show debug-file-directory
13305 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
13306 information files.
13307
13308 @end table
13309
13310 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
13311 @cindex debug link sections
13312 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
13313 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
13314
13315 @itemize
13316 @item
13317 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
13318 a zero byte,
13319 @item
13320 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
13321 boundary within the section, and
13322 @item
13323 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
13324 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
13325 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
13326 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
13327 @end itemize
13328
13329 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
13330 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
13331 described above.
13332
13333 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
13334 @cindex build ID sections
13335 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
13336 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
13337 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
13338 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
13339 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
13340 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
13341 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
13342 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
13343 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
13344
13345 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
13346 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
13347 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
13348 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
13349 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
13350 in an ordinary executable.
13351
13352 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
13353 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
13354 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
13355 following commands:
13356
13357 @smallexample
13358 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
13359 @kbd{strip -g foo}
13360 @end smallexample
13361
13362 @noindent
13363 These commands remove the debugging
13364 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
13365 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
13366 two files:
13367
13368 @itemize @bullet
13369 @item
13370 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
13371 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
13372
13373 @smallexample
13374 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
13375 @end smallexample
13376
13377 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
13378 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
13379 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
13380 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
13381
13382 @item
13383 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
13384 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
13385 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
13386 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
13387 @end itemize
13388
13389 @noindent
13390
13391 Since there are many different ways to compute CRC's for the debug
13392 link (different polynomials, reversals, byte ordering, etc.), the
13393 simplest way to describe the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}
13394 sections is to give the complete code for a function that computes it:
13395
13396 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
13397 @smallexample
13398 unsigned long
13399 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
13400 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
13401 @{
13402 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
13403 @{
13404 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
13405 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
13406 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
13407 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
13408 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
13409 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
13410 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
13411 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
13412 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
13413 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
13414 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
13415 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
13416 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
13417 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
13418 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
13419 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
13420 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
13421 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
13422 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
13423 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
13424 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
13425 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
13426 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
13427 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
13428 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
13429 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
13430 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
13431 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
13432 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
13433 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
13434 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
13435 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
13436 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
13437 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
13438 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
13439 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
13440 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
13441 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
13442 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
13443 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
13444 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
13445 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
13446 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
13447 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
13448 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
13449 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
13450 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
13451 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
13452 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
13453 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
13454 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
13455 0x2d02ef8d
13456 @};
13457 unsigned char *end;
13458
13459 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
13460 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
13461 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
13462 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
13463 @}
13464 @end smallexample
13465
13466 @noindent
13467 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
13468
13469
13470 @node Symbol Errors
13471 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
13472
13473 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
13474 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
13475 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
13476 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
13477 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
13478 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
13479 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
13480 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
13481 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
13482 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
13483 Messages}).
13484
13485 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
13486
13487 @table @code
13488 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
13489
13490 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
13491 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
13492 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
13493 in its outer scope blocks.
13494
13495 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
13496 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
13497 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
13498 function.
13499
13500 @item block at @var{address} out of order
13501
13502 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
13503 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
13504 do so.
13505
13506 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
13507 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
13508 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
13509 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
13510 Messages}.)
13511
13512 @item bad block start address patched
13513
13514 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
13515 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
13516 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
13517
13518 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
13519 starting on the previous source line.
13520
13521 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
13522
13523 @cindex foo
13524 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
13525 larger than the size of the string table.
13526
13527 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
13528 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
13529 with this name.
13530
13531 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
13532
13533 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
13534 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
13535 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
13536
13537 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
13538 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
13539 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
13540 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
13541 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
13542 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
13543
13544 @item stub type has NULL name
13545
13546 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
13547
13548 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
13549 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
13550 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
13551 it.
13552
13553 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
13554
13555 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
13556
13557 @end table
13558
13559 @node Targets
13560 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
13561
13562 @cindex debugging target
13563 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
13564
13565 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
13566 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
13567 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
13568 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
13569 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
13570 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
13571 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
13572 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
13573
13574 @cindex target architecture
13575 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
13576 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
13577 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
13578 command.
13579
13580 @table @code
13581 @kindex set architecture
13582 @kindex show architecture
13583 @item set architecture @var{arch}
13584 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
13585 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
13586 supported architectures.
13587
13588 @item show architecture
13589 Show the current target architecture.
13590
13591 @item set processor
13592 @itemx processor
13593 @kindex set processor
13594 @kindex show processor
13595 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
13596 and @code{show architecture}.
13597 @end table
13598
13599 @menu
13600 * Active Targets:: Active targets
13601 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
13602 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
13603 @end menu
13604
13605 @node Active Targets
13606 @section Active Targets
13607
13608 @cindex stacking targets
13609 @cindex active targets
13610 @cindex multiple targets
13611
13612 There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
13613 executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
13614 active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
13615 start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
13616 a core file.
13617
13618 For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
13619 @code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
13620 well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
13621 @value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
13622 first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
13623 requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
13624 are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
13625 read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
13626 executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
13627
13628 When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
13629 target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
13630 commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
13631 an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
13632 process target is active.
13633
13634 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
13635 core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify
13636 Files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
13637 the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
13638 Process}).
13639
13640 @node Target Commands
13641 @section Commands for Managing Targets
13642
13643 @table @code
13644 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
13645 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
13646 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
13647 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
13648 protocol of the target machine.
13649
13650 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
13651 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
13652 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
13653
13654 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
13655 after executing the command.
13656
13657 @kindex help target
13658 @item help target
13659 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
13660 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
13661 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
13662
13663 @item help target @var{name}
13664 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
13665 select it.
13666
13667 @kindex set gnutarget
13668 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
13669 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
13670 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
13671 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
13672 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
13673 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
13674
13675 @quotation
13676 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
13677 you must know the actual BFD name.
13678 @end quotation
13679
13680 @noindent
13681 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
13682
13683 @kindex show gnutarget
13684 @item show gnutarget
13685 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
13686 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
13687 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
13688 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
13689 @end table
13690
13691 @cindex common targets
13692 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
13693 configuration):
13694
13695 @table @code
13696 @kindex target
13697 @item target exec @var{program}
13698 @cindex executable file target
13699 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
13700 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
13701
13702 @item target core @var{filename}
13703 @cindex core dump file target
13704 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
13705 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
13706
13707 @item target remote @var{medium}
13708 @cindex remote target
13709 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
13710 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
13711 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
13712
13713 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
13714 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
13715
13716 @smallexample
13717 target remote /dev/ttya
13718 @end smallexample
13719
13720 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
13721 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
13722 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
13723 clobbered by the download.
13724
13725 @item target sim
13726 @cindex built-in simulator target
13727 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
13728 In general,
13729 @smallexample
13730 target sim
13731 load
13732 run
13733 @end smallexample
13734 @noindent
13735 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
13736 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
13737 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
13738 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
13739 Processors}.
13740
13741 @end table
13742
13743 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
13744
13745 @table @code
13746
13747 @item target nrom @var{dev}
13748 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
13749 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
13750
13751 @end table
13752
13753 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
13754 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
13755
13756 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
13757 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
13758 various aspects of this process.
13759
13760 @table @code
13761
13762 @item set hash
13763 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
13764 @cindex hash mark while downloading
13765 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
13766 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
13767 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
13768 monitor.
13769
13770 @item show hash
13771 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
13772 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
13773
13774 @item set debug monitor
13775 @kindex set debug monitor
13776 @cindex display remote monitor communications
13777 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
13778 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
13779
13780 @item show debug monitor
13781 @kindex show debug monitor
13782 Show the current status of displaying communications between
13783 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
13784 @end table
13785
13786 @table @code
13787
13788 @kindex load @var{filename}
13789 @item load @var{filename}
13790 @anchor{load}
13791 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
13792 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
13793 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
13794 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
13795 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
13796 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
13797
13798 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
13799 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
13800 target is @dots{}}''
13801
13802 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
13803 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
13804 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
13805 specifies a fixed address.
13806 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
13807
13808 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
13809 load programs into flash memory.
13810
13811 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
13812 @end table
13813
13814 @node Byte Order
13815 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
13816
13817 @cindex choosing target byte order
13818 @cindex target byte order
13819
13820 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
13821 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
13822 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
13823 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
13824 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
13825 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
13826
13827 @table @code
13828 @kindex set endian
13829 @item set endian big
13830 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
13831
13832 @item set endian little
13833 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
13834
13835 @item set endian auto
13836 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
13837 executable.
13838
13839 @item show endian
13840 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
13841
13842 @end table
13843
13844 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
13845 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
13846 target system.
13847
13848
13849 @node Remote Debugging
13850 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
13851 @cindex remote debugging
13852
13853 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
13854 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
13855 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
13856 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
13857 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
13858
13859 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
13860 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
13861 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
13862 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
13863 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
13864 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
13865
13866 Other remote targets may be available in your
13867 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
13868
13869 @menu
13870 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
13871 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
13872 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
13873 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
13874 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
13875 @end menu
13876
13877 @node Connecting
13878 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
13879
13880 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
13881 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
13882 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
13883 program as the first argument.
13884
13885 @cindex @code{target remote}
13886 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
13887 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
13888 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
13889 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
13890 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
13891 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
13892
13893 @table @code
13894
13895 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
13896 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
13897 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
13898 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
13899
13900 @smallexample
13901 target remote /dev/ttyb
13902 @end smallexample
13903
13904 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
13905 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
13906 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
13907 @code{target} command.
13908
13909 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
13910 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
13911 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
13912 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
13913 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
13914 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
13915 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
13916 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
13917 target.
13918
13919 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
13920 @code{manyfarms}:
13921
13922 @smallexample
13923 target remote manyfarms:2828
13924 @end smallexample
13925
13926 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
13927 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
13928 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
13929 port 1234 on your local machine:
13930
13931 @smallexample
13932 target remote :1234
13933 @end smallexample
13934 @noindent
13935
13936 Note that the colon is still required here.
13937
13938 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
13939 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
13940 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
13941 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
13942
13943 @smallexample
13944 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
13945 @end smallexample
13946
13947 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
13948 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
13949 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
13950 cause havoc with your debugging session.
13951
13952 @item target remote | @var{command}
13953 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
13954 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
13955 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
13956 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
13957 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
13958 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
13959 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
13960 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
13961
13962 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
13963 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
13964 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
13965
13966 @end table
13967
13968 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
13969 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
13970 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
13971 need to use @kbd{run}.
13972
13973 @cindex interrupting remote programs
13974 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
13975 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
13976 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
13977 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
13978 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
13979 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
13980
13981 @smallexample
13982 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
13983 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
13984 @end smallexample
13985
13986 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
13987 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
13988 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
13989 goes back to waiting.
13990
13991 @table @code
13992 @kindex detach (remote)
13993 @item detach
13994 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
13995 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
13996 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
13997 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
13998 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
13999
14000 @kindex disconnect
14001 @item disconnect
14002 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
14003 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
14004 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
14005 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
14006 another target.
14007
14008 @cindex send command to remote monitor
14009 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
14010 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
14011 @kindex monitor
14012 @item monitor @var{cmd}
14013 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
14014 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
14015 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
14016 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
14017 and implement.
14018 @end table
14019
14020 @node File Transfer
14021 @section Sending files to a remote system
14022 @cindex remote target, file transfer
14023 @cindex file transfer
14024 @cindex sending files to remote systems
14025
14026 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
14027 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
14028 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
14029 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
14030 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
14031 the only way to upload or download files.
14032
14033 Not all remote targets support these commands.
14034
14035 @table @code
14036 @kindex remote put
14037 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
14038 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
14039 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
14040
14041 @kindex remote get
14042 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
14043 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
14044 on the host system.
14045
14046 @kindex remote delete
14047 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
14048 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
14049
14050 @end table
14051
14052 @node Server
14053 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
14054
14055 @kindex gdbserver
14056 @cindex remote connection without stubs
14057 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
14058 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
14059 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
14060
14061 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
14062 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
14063 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
14064 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
14065 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
14066 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
14067 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
14068 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
14069 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
14070 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
14071 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
14072 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
14073 choice for debugging.
14074
14075 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
14076 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
14077 protocol.
14078
14079 @quotation
14080 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
14081 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
14082 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
14083 target system with the same privileges as the user running
14084 @code{gdbserver}.
14085 @end quotation
14086
14087 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
14088 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
14089
14090 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
14091 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
14092 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
14093 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
14094 system does all the symbol handling.
14095
14096 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
14097 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
14098 syntax is:
14099
14100 @smallexample
14101 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
14102 @end smallexample
14103
14104 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
14105 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
14106 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
14107 @file{/dev/com1}:
14108
14109 @smallexample
14110 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
14111 @end smallexample
14112
14113 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
14114 with it.
14115
14116 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
14117
14118 @smallexample
14119 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
14120 @end smallexample
14121
14122 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
14123 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
14124 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
14125 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
14126 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
14127 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
14128 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
14129 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
14130 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
14131 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
14132 @code{target remote} command.
14133
14134 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
14135
14136 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
14137 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
14138
14139 @smallexample
14140 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
14141 @end smallexample
14142
14143 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
14144 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
14145
14146 @pindex pidof
14147 @cindex attach to a program by name
14148 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
14149 @code{pidof} utility:
14150
14151 @smallexample
14152 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
14153 @end smallexample
14154
14155 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
14156 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
14157 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
14158
14159 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
14160 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
14161 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
14162
14163 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
14164 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
14165 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
14166 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
14167
14168 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
14169 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
14170 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
14171 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
14172 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
14173 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
14174 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
14175 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
14176 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
14177
14178 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
14179 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
14180 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
14181 the program you want to debug.
14182
14183 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
14184 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
14185 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
14186
14187 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
14188
14189 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
14190 status information about the debugging process. The
14191 @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
14192 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
14193 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
14194
14195 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
14196 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
14197 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
14198 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
14199
14200 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
14201 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
14202 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
14203 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
14204
14205 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
14206 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
14207 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
14208 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
14209
14210 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
14211 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
14212 environment:
14213
14214 @smallexample
14215 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
14216 @end smallexample
14217
14218 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
14219
14220 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
14221
14222 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
14223 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
14224 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
14225 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
14226
14227 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
14228 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
14229 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
14230 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
14231 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
14232 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
14233 programs.
14234
14235 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
14236 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
14237 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
14238 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
14239 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
14240 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
14241 already on the target.
14242
14243 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
14244 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
14245 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
14246
14247 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
14248 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
14249 Here are the available commands.
14250
14251 @table @code
14252 @item monitor help
14253 List the available monitor commands.
14254
14255 @item monitor set debug 0
14256 @itemx monitor set debug 1
14257 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
14258
14259 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
14260 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
14261 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
14262 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
14263
14264 @item monitor exit
14265 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
14266 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
14267 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
14268 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
14269 of a multi-process mode debug session.
14270
14271 @end table
14272
14273 @node Remote Configuration
14274 @section Remote Configuration
14275
14276 @kindex set remote
14277 @kindex show remote
14278 This section documents the configuration options available when
14279 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
14280 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
14281 system-call-allowed}.
14282
14283 @table @code
14284 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
14285 @cindex address size for remote targets
14286 @cindex bits in remote address
14287 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
14288 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
14289 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
14290 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
14291
14292 @item show remoteaddresssize
14293 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
14294
14295 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
14296 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
14297 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
14298 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
14299 remote targets.
14300
14301 @item show remotebaud
14302 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
14303
14304 @item set remotebreak
14305 @cindex interrupt remote programs
14306 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
14307 @anchor{set remotebreak}
14308 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
14309 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
14310 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
14311 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
14312 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
14313
14314 @item show remotebreak
14315 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
14316 interrupt the remote program.
14317
14318 @item set remoteflow on
14319 @itemx set remoteflow off
14320 @kindex set remoteflow
14321 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
14322 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
14323
14324 @item show remoteflow
14325 @kindex show remoteflow
14326 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
14327
14328 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
14329 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
14330 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
14331 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
14332 @code{ascii}.
14333
14334 @item show remotelogbase
14335 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
14336 protocol.
14337
14338 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
14339 @cindex record serial communications on file
14340 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
14341 default is not to record at all.
14342
14343 @item show remotelogfile.
14344 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
14345 serial communications.
14346
14347 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
14348 @cindex timeout for serial communications
14349 @cindex remote timeout
14350 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
14351 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
14352
14353 @item show remotetimeout
14354 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
14355 responses.
14356
14357 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
14358 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
14359 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
14360 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
14361 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
14362 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
14363 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
14364 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
14365
14366 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
14367 @itemx show remote exec-file
14368 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
14369 @cindex executable file, for remote target
14370 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
14371 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
14372 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
14373 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
14374
14375 @kindex set tcp
14376 @kindex show tcp
14377 @item set tcp auto-retry on
14378 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
14379 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
14380 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
14381 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
14382 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
14383 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
14384 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
14385 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
14386
14387 @item set tcp auto-retry off
14388 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
14389
14390 @item show tcp auto-retry
14391 Show the current auto-retry setting.
14392
14393 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
14394 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
14395 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
14396 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
14397 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
14398 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
14399 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
14400 value.
14401
14402 @item show tcp connect-timeout
14403 Show the current connection timeout setting.
14404 @end table
14405
14406 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
14407 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
14408 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
14409 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
14410 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
14411 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
14412 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
14413 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
14414 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
14415
14416 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
14417 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
14418 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
14419 @value{GDBN} developers.
14420
14421 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
14422 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
14423 are:
14424
14425 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
14426 @item Command Name
14427 @tab Remote Packet
14428 @tab Related Features
14429
14430 @item @code{fetch-register}
14431 @tab @code{p}
14432 @tab @code{info registers}
14433
14434 @item @code{set-register}
14435 @tab @code{P}
14436 @tab @code{set}
14437
14438 @item @code{binary-download}
14439 @tab @code{X}
14440 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
14441
14442 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
14443 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
14444 @tab @code{info auxv}
14445
14446 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
14447 @tab @code{qSymbol}
14448 @tab Detecting multiple threads
14449
14450 @item @code{attach}
14451 @tab @code{vAttach}
14452 @tab @code{attach}
14453
14454 @item @code{verbose-resume}
14455 @tab @code{vCont}
14456 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
14457
14458 @item @code{run}
14459 @tab @code{vRun}
14460 @tab @code{run}
14461
14462 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
14463 @tab @code{Z0}
14464 @tab @code{break}
14465
14466 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
14467 @tab @code{Z1}
14468 @tab @code{hbreak}
14469
14470 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
14471 @tab @code{Z2}
14472 @tab @code{watch}
14473
14474 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
14475 @tab @code{Z3}
14476 @tab @code{rwatch}
14477
14478 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
14479 @tab @code{Z4}
14480 @tab @code{awatch}
14481
14482 @item @code{target-features}
14483 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
14484 @tab @code{set architecture}
14485
14486 @item @code{library-info}
14487 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
14488 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
14489
14490 @item @code{memory-map}
14491 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
14492 @tab @code{info mem}
14493
14494 @item @code{read-spu-object}
14495 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
14496 @tab @code{info spu}
14497
14498 @item @code{write-spu-object}
14499 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
14500 @tab @code{info spu}
14501
14502 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
14503 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
14504 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
14505
14506 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
14507 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
14508 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
14509
14510 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
14511 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
14512 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
14513
14514 @item @code{search-memory}
14515 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
14516 @tab @code{find}
14517
14518 @item @code{supported-packets}
14519 @tab @code{qSupported}
14520 @tab Remote communications parameters
14521
14522 @item @code{pass-signals}
14523 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
14524 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
14525
14526 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
14527 @tab @code{vFile:close}
14528 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14529
14530 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
14531 @tab @code{vFile:open}
14532 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14533
14534 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
14535 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
14536 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14537
14538 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
14539 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
14540 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14541
14542 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
14543 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
14544 @tab @code{remote delete}
14545
14546 @item @code{noack-packet}
14547 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
14548 @tab Packet acknowledgment
14549
14550 @item @code{osdata}
14551 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
14552 @tab @code{info os}
14553
14554 @item @code{query-attached}
14555 @tab @code{qAttached}
14556 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
14557 @end multitable
14558
14559 @node Remote Stub
14560 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
14561
14562 @cindex debugging stub, example
14563 @cindex remote stub, example
14564 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
14565 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
14566 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
14567 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
14568 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
14569 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
14570 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
14571 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
14572
14573 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
14574 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
14575 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
14576 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
14577 program, you need:
14578
14579 @enumerate
14580 @item
14581 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
14582 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
14583 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
14584
14585 @item
14586 A C subroutine library to support your program's
14587 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
14588
14589 @item
14590 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
14591 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
14592 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
14593 documentation.
14594 @end enumerate
14595
14596 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
14597 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
14598 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
14599
14600 @table @emph
14601 @item On the host,
14602 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
14603 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
14604 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
14605
14606 @item On the target,
14607 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
14608 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
14609 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
14610
14611 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
14612 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
14613 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
14614 @end table
14615
14616 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
14617 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
14618 @sc{sparc} boards.
14619
14620 @cindex remote serial stub list
14621 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
14622
14623 @table @code
14624
14625 @item i386-stub.c
14626 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
14627 @cindex Intel
14628 @cindex i386
14629 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
14630
14631 @item m68k-stub.c
14632 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
14633 @cindex Motorola 680x0
14634 @cindex m680x0
14635 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
14636
14637 @item sh-stub.c
14638 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
14639 @cindex Renesas
14640 @cindex SH
14641 For Renesas SH architectures.
14642
14643 @item sparc-stub.c
14644 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
14645 @cindex Sparc
14646 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
14647
14648 @item sparcl-stub.c
14649 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
14650 @cindex Fujitsu
14651 @cindex SparcLite
14652 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
14653
14654 @end table
14655
14656 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
14657 recently added stubs.
14658
14659 @menu
14660 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
14661 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
14662 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
14663 @end menu
14664
14665 @node Stub Contents
14666 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
14667
14668 @cindex remote serial stub
14669 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
14670 subroutines:
14671
14672 @table @code
14673 @item set_debug_traps
14674 @findex set_debug_traps
14675 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
14676 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
14677 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
14678 beginning of your program.
14679
14680 @item handle_exception
14681 @findex handle_exception
14682 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
14683 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
14684 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
14685 run when a trap is triggered.
14686
14687 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
14688 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
14689 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
14690 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
14691 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
14692 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
14693 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
14694 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
14695 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
14696 machine.
14697
14698 @item breakpoint
14699 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
14700 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
14701 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
14702 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
14703 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
14704 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
14705 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
14706 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
14707 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
14708 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
14709 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
14710
14711 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
14712 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
14713 start of your debugging session.
14714 @end table
14715
14716 @node Bootstrapping
14717 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
14718
14719 @cindex remote stub, support routines
14720 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
14721 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
14722 debugging target machine.
14723
14724 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
14725 serial port.
14726
14727 @table @code
14728 @item int getDebugChar()
14729 @findex getDebugChar
14730 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
14731 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
14732 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
14733
14734 @item void putDebugChar(int)
14735 @findex putDebugChar
14736 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
14737 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
14738 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
14739 @end table
14740
14741 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
14742 @cindex interrupting remote targets
14743 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
14744 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
14745 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
14746 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
14747 remote system to stop.
14748
14749 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
14750 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
14751 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
14752 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
14753
14754 Other routines you need to supply are:
14755
14756 @table @code
14757 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
14758 @findex exceptionHandler
14759 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
14760 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
14761 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
14762 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
14763 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
14764 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
14765 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
14766 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
14767 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
14768 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
14769 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
14770 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
14771 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
14772
14773 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
14774 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
14775 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
14776 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
14777 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
14778
14779 @item void flush_i_cache()
14780 @findex flush_i_cache
14781 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
14782 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
14783 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
14784
14785 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
14786 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
14787 @end table
14788
14789 @noindent
14790 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
14791
14792 @table @code
14793 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
14794 @findex memset
14795 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
14796 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
14797 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
14798 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
14799 @end table
14800
14801 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
14802 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
14803 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
14804 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
14805
14806
14807 @node Debug Session
14808 @subsection Putting it All Together
14809
14810 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
14811 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
14812 steps.
14813
14814 @enumerate
14815 @item
14816 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
14817 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
14818 @display
14819 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
14820 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
14821 @end display
14822
14823 @item
14824 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
14825
14826 @smallexample
14827 set_debug_traps();
14828 breakpoint();
14829 @end smallexample
14830
14831 @item
14832 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
14833 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
14834
14835 @smallexample
14836 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
14837 @end smallexample
14838
14839 @noindent
14840 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
14841 function in your program, that function is called when
14842 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
14843 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
14844 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
14845
14846 @item
14847 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
14848 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
14849
14850 @item
14851 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
14852 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
14853
14854 @item
14855 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
14856 @c document that. FIXME.
14857 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
14858 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
14859
14860 @item
14861 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
14862 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
14863
14864 @end enumerate
14865
14866 @node Configurations
14867 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
14868
14869 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
14870 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
14871 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
14872
14873 There are three major categories of configurations: native
14874 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
14875 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
14876 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
14877 are quite different from each other.
14878
14879 @menu
14880 * Native::
14881 * Embedded OS::
14882 * Embedded Processors::
14883 * Architectures::
14884 @end menu
14885
14886 @node Native
14887 @section Native
14888
14889 This section describes details specific to particular native
14890 configurations.
14891
14892 @menu
14893 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
14894 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
14895 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
14896 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
14897 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
14898 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
14899 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
14900 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
14901 @end menu
14902
14903 @node HP-UX
14904 @subsection HP-UX
14905
14906 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
14907 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
14908 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
14909
14910
14911 @node BSD libkvm Interface
14912 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
14913
14914 @cindex libkvm
14915 @cindex kernel memory image
14916 @cindex kernel crash dump
14917
14918 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
14919 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
14920 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
14921 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
14922 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
14923 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
14924 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
14925 @code{kvm} target:
14926
14927 @smallexample
14928 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
14929 @end smallexample
14930
14931 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
14932 argument:
14933
14934 @smallexample
14935 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
14936 @end smallexample
14937
14938 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
14939 available:
14940
14941 @table @code
14942 @kindex kvm
14943 @item kvm pcb
14944 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
14945
14946 @item kvm proc
14947 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
14948 modern FreeBSD systems.
14949 @end table
14950
14951 @node SVR4 Process Information
14952 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
14953 @cindex /proc
14954 @cindex examine process image
14955 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
14956
14957 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
14958 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
14959 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
14960 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
14961 proc} is available to report information about the process running
14962 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
14963 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
14964 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
14965 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
14966
14967 @table @code
14968 @kindex info proc
14969 @cindex process ID
14970 @item info proc
14971 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
14972 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
14973 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
14974 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
14975 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
14976 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
14977 executable file's absolute file name.
14978
14979 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
14980 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
14981 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
14982 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
14983 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
14984 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
14985
14986 @item info proc mappings
14987 @cindex memory address space mappings
14988 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
14989 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
14990 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
14991 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
14992 memory access rights to that range.
14993
14994 @item info proc stat
14995 @itemx info proc status
14996 @cindex process detailed status information
14997 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
14998 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
14999 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
15000 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
15001 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
15002 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
15003 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
15004
15005 @item info proc all
15006 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
15007 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
15008
15009 @ignore
15010 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
15011 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
15012 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
15013 @kindex info proc times
15014 @item info proc times
15015 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
15016 its children.
15017
15018 @kindex info proc id
15019 @item info proc id
15020 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
15021 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
15022 @end ignore
15023
15024 @item set procfs-trace
15025 @kindex set procfs-trace
15026 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
15027 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
15028
15029 @item show procfs-trace
15030 @kindex show procfs-trace
15031 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
15032
15033 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
15034 @kindex set procfs-file
15035 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
15036 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
15037 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
15038 standard output.
15039
15040 @item show procfs-file
15041 @kindex show procfs-file
15042 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
15043
15044 @item proc-trace-entry
15045 @itemx proc-trace-exit
15046 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
15047 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
15048 @kindex proc-trace-entry
15049 @kindex proc-trace-exit
15050 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
15051 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
15052 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
15053 from the @code{syscall} interface.
15054
15055 @item info pidlist
15056 @kindex info pidlist
15057 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
15058 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
15059 processes and all the threads within each process.
15060
15061 @item info meminfo
15062 @kindex info meminfo
15063 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
15064 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
15065 @end table
15066
15067 @node DJGPP Native
15068 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
15069 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
15070 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
15071 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
15072
15073 @cindex DPMI
15074 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
15075 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
15076 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
15077 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
15078
15079 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
15080 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
15081 subsection describes those commands.
15082
15083 @table @code
15084 @kindex info dos
15085 @item info dos
15086 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
15087 information about the target system and important OS structures.
15088
15089 @kindex sysinfo
15090 @cindex MS-DOS system info
15091 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
15092 @item info dos sysinfo
15093 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
15094 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
15095 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
15096
15097 @cindex GDT
15098 @cindex LDT
15099 @cindex IDT
15100 @cindex segment descriptor tables
15101 @cindex descriptor tables display
15102 @item info dos gdt
15103 @itemx info dos ldt
15104 @itemx info dos idt
15105 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
15106 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
15107 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
15108 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
15109 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
15110 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
15111 rights.
15112
15113 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
15114 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
15115 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
15116 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
15117 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
15118
15119 @cindex garbled pointers
15120 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
15121 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
15122 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
15123 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
15124 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
15125 debugged program's data segment:
15126
15127 @smallexample
15128 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
15129 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
15130 @end smallexample
15131
15132 @noindent
15133 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
15134 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
15135
15136 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
15137 @item info dos pde
15138 @itemx info dos pte
15139 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
15140 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
15141 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
15142 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
15143 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
15144 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
15145 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
15146 that is currently in use.
15147
15148 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
15149 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
15150 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
15151 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
15152 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
15153 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
15154 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
15155
15156 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
15157 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
15158 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
15159 controller.
15160
15161 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
15162
15163 @cindex physical address from linear address
15164 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
15165 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
15166 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
15167 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
15168 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
15169 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
15170 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
15171
15172 @smallexample
15173 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
15174 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
15175 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
15176 @end smallexample
15177
15178 @noindent
15179 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
15180 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
15181 attributes of that page.
15182
15183 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
15184 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
15185 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
15186 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
15187 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
15188 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
15189
15190 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
15191 transfer buffer:
15192
15193 @smallexample
15194 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
15195 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
15196 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
15197 @end smallexample
15198
15199 @noindent
15200 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
15201 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
15202 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
15203 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
15204 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
15205
15206 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
15207 @end table
15208
15209 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
15210 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
15211 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
15212 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
15213
15214 @table @code
15215 @kindex set com1base
15216 @kindex set com1irq
15217 @kindex set com2base
15218 @kindex set com2irq
15219 @kindex set com3base
15220 @kindex set com3irq
15221 @kindex set com4base
15222 @kindex set com4irq
15223 @item set com1base @var{addr}
15224 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
15225 port.
15226
15227 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
15228 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
15229 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
15230
15231 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
15232 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
15233 other 3 COM ports.
15234
15235 @kindex show com1base
15236 @kindex show com1irq
15237 @kindex show com2base
15238 @kindex show com2irq
15239 @kindex show com3base
15240 @kindex show com3irq
15241 @kindex show com4base
15242 @kindex show com4irq
15243 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
15244 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
15245 lines used by the COM ports.
15246
15247 @item info serial
15248 @kindex info serial
15249 @cindex DOS serial port status
15250 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
15251 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
15252 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
15253 counts of various errors encountered so far.
15254 @end table
15255
15256
15257 @node Cygwin Native
15258 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
15259 @cindex MS Windows debugging
15260 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
15261 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
15262
15263 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
15264 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information. There are various
15265 additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in this section.
15266 Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is described in
15267 @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
15268
15269 @table @code
15270 @kindex info w32
15271 @item info w32
15272 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
15273 information about the target system and important OS structures.
15274
15275 @item info w32 selector
15276 This command displays information returned by
15277 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
15278 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
15279 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
15280 Without argument, this command displays information
15281 about the six segment registers.
15282
15283 @kindex info dll
15284 @item info dll
15285 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
15286
15287 @kindex dll-symbols
15288 @item dll-symbols
15289 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
15290 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
15291
15292 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
15293 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
15294 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
15295 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
15296 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
15297 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
15298 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
15299 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
15300 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
15301 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
15302 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
15303
15304 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
15305 @item show cygwin-exceptions
15306 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
15307 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
15308
15309 @kindex set new-console
15310 @item set new-console @var{mode}
15311 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
15312 be started in a new console on next start.
15313 If @var{mode} is @code{off}i, the debuggee will
15314 be started in the same console as the debugger.
15315
15316 @kindex show new-console
15317 @item show new-console
15318 Displays whether a new console is used
15319 when the debuggee is started.
15320
15321 @kindex set new-group
15322 @item set new-group @var{mode}
15323 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
15324 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
15325 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
15326 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
15327
15328 @kindex show new-group
15329 @item show new-group
15330 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
15331
15332 @kindex set debugevents
15333 @item set debugevents
15334 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
15335 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
15336 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
15337 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
15338 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
15339
15340 @kindex set debugexec
15341 @item set debugexec
15342 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
15343 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
15344
15345 @kindex set debugexceptions
15346 @item set debugexceptions
15347 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
15348 debuggee seen by the debugger.
15349
15350 @kindex set debugmemory
15351 @item set debugmemory
15352 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
15353 and writes by the debugger.
15354
15355 @kindex set shell
15356 @item set shell
15357 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
15358 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
15359
15360 @kindex show shell
15361 @item show shell
15362 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
15363
15364 @end table
15365
15366 @menu
15367 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
15368 @end menu
15369
15370 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
15371 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
15372 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
15373 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
15374
15375 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
15376 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
15377 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
15378 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
15379 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
15380 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
15381 ``minimal symbols''.
15382
15383 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
15384 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
15385 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
15386 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
15387 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
15388 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
15389 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
15390 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
15391 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
15392 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
15393
15394 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
15395
15396 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
15397 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
15398 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
15399 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
15400 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
15401 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
15402 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
15403 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
15404 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
15405
15406 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
15407 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
15408 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
15409 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
15410 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
15411 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
15412
15413 @smallexample
15414 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
15415 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
15416
15417 Non-debugging symbols:
15418 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
15419 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
15420 @end smallexample
15421
15422 @smallexample
15423 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
15424 All functions matching regular expression "!":
15425
15426 Non-debugging symbols:
15427 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
15428 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
15429 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
15430 [etc...]
15431 @end smallexample
15432
15433 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
15434
15435 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
15436 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
15437 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
15438 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
15439 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
15440 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
15441 a function within a DLL without a running program.
15442
15443 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
15444 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
15445 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
15446 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
15447 problem:
15448
15449 @smallexample
15450 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
15451 $1 = 268572168
15452 @end smallexample
15453
15454 @smallexample
15455 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
15456 0x10021610: "\230y\""
15457 @end smallexample
15458
15459 And two possible solutions:
15460
15461 @smallexample
15462 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
15463 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
15464 @end smallexample
15465
15466 @smallexample
15467 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
15468 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
15469 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
15470 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
15471 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
15472 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
15473 @end smallexample
15474
15475 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
15476 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
15477 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
15478 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
15479 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
15480
15481 @smallexample
15482 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
15483 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
15484 @end smallexample
15485
15486 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
15487 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
15488 safe.
15489
15490 @node Hurd Native
15491 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
15492 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
15493
15494 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
15495 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
15496
15497 @table @code
15498 @item set signals
15499 @itemx set sigs
15500 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
15501 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
15502 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
15503 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
15504 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
15505 @code{signals}.
15506
15507 @item show signals
15508 @itemx show sigs
15509 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
15510 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
15511 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
15512
15513 @item set signal-thread
15514 @itemx set sigthread
15515 @kindex set signal-thread
15516 @kindex set sigthread
15517 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
15518 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
15519 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
15520 signal-thread}.
15521
15522 @item show signal-thread
15523 @itemx show sigthread
15524 @kindex show signal-thread
15525 @kindex show sigthread
15526 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
15527 delivered a signal.
15528
15529 @item set stopped
15530 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
15531 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
15532 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
15533 continued by delivering a signal to it.
15534
15535 @item show stopped
15536 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
15537 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
15538 stopped.
15539
15540 @item set exceptions
15541 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
15542 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
15543 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
15544 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
15545 trapping on.
15546
15547 @item show exceptions
15548 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
15549 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
15550
15551 @item set task pause
15552 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
15553 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
15554 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
15555 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
15556 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
15557 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
15558 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
15559 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
15560 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
15561
15562 @item show task pause
15563 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
15564 Show the current state of task suspension.
15565
15566 @item set task detach-suspend-count
15567 @cindex task suspend count
15568 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15569 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
15570 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
15571
15572 @item show task detach-suspend-count
15573 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
15574
15575 @item set task exception-port
15576 @itemx set task excp
15577 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15578 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
15579 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
15580 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
15581
15582 @item set noninvasive
15583 @cindex noninvasive task options
15584 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
15585 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
15586 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
15587 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
15588
15589 @item info send-rights
15590 @itemx info receive-rights
15591 @itemx info port-rights
15592 @itemx info port-sets
15593 @itemx info dead-names
15594 @itemx info ports
15595 @itemx info psets
15596 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15597 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15598 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15599 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15600 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15601 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
15602 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
15603 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
15604 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
15605
15606 @item set thread pause
15607 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
15608 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15609 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
15610 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
15611 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
15612 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
15613 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
15614 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
15615 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
15616 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
15617 only the current thread.
15618
15619 @item show thread pause
15620 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
15621 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
15622
15623 @item set thread run
15624 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
15625
15626 @item show thread run
15627 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
15628
15629 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
15630 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15631 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15632 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
15633 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
15634 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
15635 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
15636
15637 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
15638 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
15639 detaching.
15640
15641 @item set thread exception-port
15642 @itemx set thread excp
15643 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
15644 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
15645 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
15646
15647 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
15648 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
15649 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
15650 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
15651
15652 @item set thread default
15653 @itemx show thread default
15654 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15655 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
15656 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
15657 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
15658 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
15659 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
15660 the non-default commands.
15661 @end table
15662
15663
15664 @node Neutrino
15665 @subsection QNX Neutrino
15666 @cindex QNX Neutrino
15667
15668 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
15669 Neutrino target:
15670
15671 @table @code
15672 @item set debug nto-debug
15673 @kindex set debug nto-debug
15674 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
15675 Neutrino support.
15676
15677 @item show debug nto-debug
15678 @kindex show debug nto-debug
15679 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
15680 @end table
15681
15682 @node Darwin
15683 @subsection Darwin
15684 @cindex Darwin
15685
15686 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
15687
15688 @table @code
15689 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
15690 @kindex set debug darwin
15691 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
15692 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
15693
15694 @item show debug darwin
15695 @kindex show debug darwin
15696 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
15697
15698 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
15699 @kindex set debug mach-o
15700 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
15701 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
15702 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
15703 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
15704 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
15705 usage.
15706
15707 @item show debug mach-o
15708 @kindex show debug mach-o
15709 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
15710
15711 @item set mach-exceptions on
15712 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
15713 @kindex set mach-exceptions
15714 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
15715 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
15716 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
15717 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
15718
15719 @item show mach-exceptions
15720 @kindex show mach-exceptions
15721 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
15722 @end table
15723
15724
15725 @node Embedded OS
15726 @section Embedded Operating Systems
15727
15728 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
15729 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
15730 architectures.
15731
15732 @menu
15733 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
15734 @end menu
15735
15736 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
15737 various real-time operating systems.
15738
15739 @node VxWorks
15740 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
15741
15742 @cindex VxWorks
15743
15744 @table @code
15745
15746 @kindex target vxworks
15747 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
15748 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
15749 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
15750
15751 @end table
15752
15753 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
15754 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
15755
15756 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
15757 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
15758 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
15759 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
15760 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
15761 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
15762 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
15763
15764 @table @code
15765 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
15766 @kindex vxworks-timeout
15767 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
15768 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
15769 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
15770 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
15771 of a thin network line.
15772 @end table
15773
15774 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
15775 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
15776 procedures.
15777
15778 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
15779 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
15780 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
15781 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
15782 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
15783 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
15784 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
15785 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
15786 manual.
15787 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
15788
15789 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
15790 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
15791 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
15792 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
15793
15794 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
15795
15796 @smallexample
15797 (vxgdb)
15798 @end smallexample
15799
15800 @menu
15801 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
15802 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
15803 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
15804 @end menu
15805
15806 @node VxWorks Connection
15807 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
15808
15809 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
15810 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
15811
15812 @smallexample
15813 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
15814 @end smallexample
15815
15816 @need 750
15817 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
15818
15819 @smallexample
15820 Attaching remote machine across net...
15821 Connected to tt.
15822 @end smallexample
15823
15824 @need 1000
15825 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
15826 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
15827 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
15828 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
15829 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
15830
15831 @smallexample
15832 prog.o: No such file or directory.
15833 @end smallexample
15834
15835 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
15836 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
15837 command again.
15838
15839 @node VxWorks Download
15840 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
15841
15842 @cindex download to VxWorks
15843 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
15844 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
15845 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
15846 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
15847 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
15848 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
15849 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
15850 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
15851 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
15852 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
15853 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
15854 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
15855 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
15856 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
15857 program, type this on VxWorks:
15858
15859 @smallexample
15860 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
15861 @end smallexample
15862
15863 @noindent
15864 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
15865
15866 @smallexample
15867 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
15868 (vxgdb) load prog.o
15869 @end smallexample
15870
15871 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
15872
15873 @smallexample
15874 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
15875 @end smallexample
15876
15877 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
15878 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
15879 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
15880 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
15881 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
15882 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
15883 table.)
15884
15885 @node VxWorks Attach
15886 @subsubsection Running Tasks
15887
15888 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
15889 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
15890 follows:
15891
15892 @smallexample
15893 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
15894 @end smallexample
15895
15896 @noindent
15897 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
15898 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
15899 the time of attachment.
15900
15901 @node Embedded Processors
15902 @section Embedded Processors
15903
15904 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
15905 configurations.
15906
15907 @cindex send command to simulator
15908 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
15909 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
15910
15911 @table @code
15912 @item sim @var{command}
15913 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
15914 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
15915 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
15916 acceptable commands.
15917 @end table
15918
15919
15920 @menu
15921 * ARM:: ARM RDI
15922 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
15923 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
15924 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
15925 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
15926 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
15927 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
15928 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
15929 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
15930 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
15931 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
15932 * CRIS:: CRIS
15933 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
15934 @end menu
15935
15936 @node ARM
15937 @subsection ARM
15938 @cindex ARM RDI
15939
15940 @table @code
15941 @kindex target rdi
15942 @item target rdi @var{dev}
15943 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
15944 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
15945 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
15946
15947 @kindex target rdp
15948 @item target rdp @var{dev}
15949 ARM Demon monitor.
15950
15951 @end table
15952
15953 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
15954
15955 @table @code
15956 @item set arm disassembler
15957 @kindex set arm
15958 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
15959 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
15960
15961 @item show arm disassembler
15962 @kindex show arm
15963 Show the current disassembly style.
15964
15965 @item set arm apcs32
15966 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
15967 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
15968
15969 @item show arm apcs32
15970 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
15971
15972 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
15973 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
15974 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
15975
15976 @table @code
15977 @item auto
15978 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
15979 @item softfpa
15980 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
15981 processors.
15982 @item fpa
15983 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
15984 @item softvfp
15985 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
15986 @item vfp
15987 VFP co-processor.
15988 @end table
15989
15990 @item show arm fpu
15991 Show the current type of the FPU.
15992
15993 @item set arm abi
15994 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
15995
15996 @item show arm abi
15997 Show the currently used ABI.
15998
15999 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
16000 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
16001 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
16002 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
16003 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
16004 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
16005 register).
16006
16007 @item show arm fallback-mode
16008 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
16009
16010 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
16011 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
16012 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
16013 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
16014 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
16015
16016 @item show arm force-mode
16017 Show the current forced instruction mode.
16018
16019 @item set debug arm
16020 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
16021 target support subsystem.
16022
16023 @item show debug arm
16024 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
16025 @end table
16026
16027 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
16028 using the RDI interface:
16029
16030 @table @code
16031 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
16032 @kindex rdilogfile
16033 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
16034 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
16035 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
16036 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
16037 @file{rdi.log}.
16038
16039 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
16040 @kindex rdilogenable
16041 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
16042 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
16043 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
16044 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
16045 are logged to a file.
16046
16047 @item set rdiromatzero
16048 @kindex set rdiromatzero
16049 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
16050 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
16051 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
16052 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
16053 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
16054
16055 @item show rdiromatzero
16056 @kindex show rdiromatzero
16057 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
16058
16059 @item set rdiheartbeat
16060 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
16061 @cindex RDI heartbeat
16062 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
16063 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
16064 well as the Angel monitor.
16065
16066 @item show rdiheartbeat
16067 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
16068 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
16069 @end table
16070
16071
16072 @node M32R/D
16073 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
16074
16075 @table @code
16076 @kindex target m32r
16077 @item target m32r @var{dev}
16078 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
16079
16080 @kindex target m32rsdi
16081 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
16082 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
16083 @end table
16084
16085 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
16086
16087 @table @code
16088 @item set download-path @var{path}
16089 @kindex set download-path
16090 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
16091 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
16092
16093 @item show download-path
16094 @kindex show download-path
16095 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
16096
16097 @item set board-address @var{addr}
16098 @kindex set board-address
16099 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
16100 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
16101
16102 @item show board-address
16103 @kindex show board-address
16104 Show the current IP address of the target board.
16105
16106 @item set server-address @var{addr}
16107 @kindex set server-address
16108 @cindex download server address (M32R)
16109 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
16110 host machine.
16111
16112 @item show server-address
16113 @kindex show server-address
16114 Display the IP address of the download server.
16115
16116 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
16117 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
16118 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
16119 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
16120 executable file is uploaded.
16121
16122 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
16123 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
16124 Test the @code{upload} command.
16125 @end table
16126
16127 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
16128
16129 @table @code
16130 @item sdireset
16131 @kindex sdireset
16132 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
16133 This command resets the SDI connection.
16134
16135 @item sdistatus
16136 @kindex sdistatus
16137 This command shows the SDI connection status.
16138
16139 @item debug_chaos
16140 @kindex debug_chaos
16141 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
16142 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
16143
16144 @item use_debug_dma
16145 @kindex use_debug_dma
16146 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
16147
16148 @item use_mon_code
16149 @kindex use_mon_code
16150 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
16151
16152 @item use_ib_break
16153 @kindex use_ib_break
16154 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
16155
16156 @item use_dbt_break
16157 @kindex use_dbt_break
16158 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
16159 @end table
16160
16161 @node M68K
16162 @subsection M68k
16163
16164 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
16165 target command for the following ROM monitor.
16166
16167 @table @code
16168
16169 @kindex target dbug
16170 @item target dbug @var{dev}
16171 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
16172
16173 @end table
16174
16175 @node MIPS Embedded
16176 @subsection MIPS Embedded
16177
16178 @cindex MIPS boards
16179 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
16180 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
16181 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
16182
16183 @need 1000
16184 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
16185
16186 @table @code
16187 @item target mips @var{port}
16188 @kindex target mips @var{port}
16189 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
16190 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
16191 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
16192 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
16193 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
16194 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
16195
16196 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
16197 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
16198 debugger:
16199
16200 @smallexample
16201 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
16202 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
16203 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
16204 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
16205 (@value{GDBP}) run
16206 @end smallexample
16207
16208 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
16209 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
16210 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
16211 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
16212 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
16213
16214 @item target pmon @var{port}
16215 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
16216 PMON ROM monitor.
16217
16218 @item target ddb @var{port}
16219 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
16220 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
16221
16222 @item target lsi @var{port}
16223 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
16224 LSI variant of PMON.
16225
16226 @kindex target r3900
16227 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
16228 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
16229
16230 @kindex target array
16231 @item target array @var{dev}
16232 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
16233
16234 @end table
16235
16236
16237 @noindent
16238 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
16239
16240 @table @code
16241 @item set mipsfpu double
16242 @itemx set mipsfpu single
16243 @itemx set mipsfpu none
16244 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
16245 @itemx show mipsfpu
16246 @kindex set mipsfpu
16247 @kindex show mipsfpu
16248 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
16249 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
16250 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
16251 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
16252 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
16253 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
16254 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
16255 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
16256 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
16257 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
16258 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
16259 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
16260 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
16261
16262 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
16263 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
16264 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
16265
16266 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
16267 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
16268
16269 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
16270 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
16271 @itemx show timeout
16272 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
16273 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
16274 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
16275 @kindex set timeout
16276 @kindex show timeout
16277 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
16278 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
16279 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
16280 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
16281 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
16282 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
16283 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
16284 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
16285 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
16286 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
16287
16288 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
16289 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
16290 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
16291 to run before stopping.
16292
16293 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
16294 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
16295 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
16296 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
16297 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
16298 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
16299
16300 @item show syn-garbage-limit
16301 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
16302 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
16303 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
16304
16305 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
16306 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
16307 @cindex remote monitor prompt
16308 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
16309 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
16310 @table @asis
16311 @item pmon target
16312 @samp{PMON}
16313 @item ddb target
16314 @samp{NEC010}
16315 @item lsi target
16316 @samp{PMON>}
16317 @end table
16318
16319 @item show monitor-prompt
16320 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
16321 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
16322 remote monitor.
16323
16324 @item set monitor-warnings
16325 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
16326 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
16327 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
16328 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
16329 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
16330
16331 @item show monitor-warnings
16332 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
16333 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
16334
16335 @item pmon @var{command}
16336 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
16337 @cindex send PMON command
16338 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
16339 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
16340 @end table
16341
16342 @node OpenRISC 1000
16343 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
16344 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
16345
16346 @cindex or1k boards
16347 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
16348 about platform and commands.
16349
16350 @table @code
16351
16352 @kindex target jtag
16353 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
16354
16355 Connects to remote JTAG server.
16356 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
16357 connected via parallel port to the board.
16358
16359 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
16360
16361 @kindex or1ksim
16362 @item or1ksim @var{command}
16363 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
16364 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
16365
16366 @kindex info or1k spr
16367 @item info or1k spr
16368 Displays spr groups.
16369
16370 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
16371 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
16372 Displays register names in selected group.
16373
16374 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
16375 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
16376 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
16377 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
16378 Shows information about specified spr register.
16379
16380 @kindex spr
16381 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
16382 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
16383 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
16384 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
16385 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
16386 @end table
16387
16388 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
16389 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
16390 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
16391 triggers can be set using:
16392 @table @code
16393 @item $LEA/$LDATA
16394 Load effective address/data
16395 @item $SEA/$SDATA
16396 Store effective address/data
16397 @item $AEA/$ADATA
16398 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
16399 @item $FETCH
16400 Fetch data
16401 @end table
16402
16403 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
16404 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
16405
16406 @code{htrace} commands:
16407 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
16408 @table @code
16409 @kindex hwatch
16410 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
16411 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
16412 or Data. For example:
16413
16414 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
16415
16416 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
16417
16418 @kindex htrace
16419 @item htrace info
16420 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
16421
16422 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
16423 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
16424
16425 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
16426 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
16427
16428 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
16429 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
16430
16431 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
16432 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
16433 triggered.
16434
16435 @item htrace enable
16436 @itemx htrace disable
16437 Enables/disables the HW trace.
16438
16439 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
16440 Clears currently recorded trace data.
16441
16442 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
16443 will be written there.
16444
16445 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
16446 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
16447
16448 @item htrace mode continuous
16449 Set continuous trace mode.
16450
16451 @item htrace mode suspend
16452 Set suspend trace mode.
16453
16454 @end table
16455
16456 @node PowerPC Embedded
16457 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
16458
16459 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
16460
16461 @table @code
16462 @kindex set powerpc
16463 @item set powerpc soft-float
16464 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
16465 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
16466 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
16467 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
16468
16469 @item set powerpc vector-abi
16470 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
16471 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
16472 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
16473 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
16474 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
16475 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
16476 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
16477
16478 @kindex target dink32
16479 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
16480 DINK32 ROM monitor.
16481
16482 @kindex target ppcbug
16483 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
16484 @kindex target ppcbug1
16485 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
16486 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
16487
16488 @kindex target sds
16489 @item target sds @var{dev}
16490 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
16491 @end table
16492
16493 @cindex SDS protocol
16494 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
16495 by @value{GDBN}:
16496
16497 @table @code
16498 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
16499 @kindex set sdstimeout
16500 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
16501 default is 2 seconds.
16502
16503 @item show sdstimeout
16504 @kindex show sdstimeout
16505 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
16506
16507 @item sds @var{command}
16508 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
16509 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
16510 @end table
16511
16512
16513 @node PA
16514 @subsection HP PA Embedded
16515
16516 @table @code
16517
16518 @kindex target op50n
16519 @item target op50n @var{dev}
16520 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
16521
16522 @kindex target w89k
16523 @item target w89k @var{dev}
16524 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
16525
16526 @end table
16527
16528 @node Sparclet
16529 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
16530
16531 @cindex Sparclet
16532
16533 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
16534 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
16535 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
16536 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
16537 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
16538
16539 @table @code
16540 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
16541 @kindex remotetimeout
16542 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
16543 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
16544 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
16545 @end table
16546
16547 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
16548 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
16549 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
16550 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
16551 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
16552
16553 @smallexample
16554 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
16555 @end smallexample
16556
16557 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
16558
16559 @smallexample
16560 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
16561 @end smallexample
16562
16563 @cindex running, on Sparclet
16564 Once you have set
16565 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
16566 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
16567 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
16568
16569 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
16570
16571 @smallexample
16572 (gdbslet)
16573 @end smallexample
16574
16575 @menu
16576 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
16577 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
16578 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
16579 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
16580 @end menu
16581
16582 @node Sparclet File
16583 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
16584
16585 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
16586
16587 @smallexample
16588 (gdbslet) file prog
16589 @end smallexample
16590
16591 @need 1000
16592 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
16593 @value{GDBN} locates
16594 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
16595 path.
16596 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
16597 files will be searched as well.
16598 @value{GDBN} locates
16599 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
16600 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
16601 If it fails
16602 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
16603
16604 @smallexample
16605 prog: No such file or directory.
16606 @end smallexample
16607
16608 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
16609 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
16610 @code{target} command again.
16611
16612 @node Sparclet Connection
16613 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
16614
16615 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
16616 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
16617
16618 @smallexample
16619 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
16620 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
16621 main () at ../prog.c:3
16622 @end smallexample
16623
16624 @need 750
16625 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
16626
16627 @smallexample
16628 Connected to ttya.
16629 @end smallexample
16630
16631 @node Sparclet Download
16632 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
16633
16634 @cindex download to Sparclet
16635 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
16636 you can use the @value{GDBN}
16637 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
16638 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
16639 command.
16640 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
16641 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
16642 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
16643 of each of the file's sections.
16644 For instance, if the program
16645 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
16646 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
16647
16648 @smallexample
16649 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
16650 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
16651 @end smallexample
16652
16653 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
16654 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
16655 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
16656
16657 @node Sparclet Execution
16658 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
16659
16660 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
16661 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
16662 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
16663 manual for the list of commands.
16664
16665 @smallexample
16666 (gdbslet) b main
16667 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
16668 (gdbslet) run
16669 Starting program: prog
16670 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
16671 3 char *symarg = 0;
16672 (gdbslet) step
16673 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
16674 (gdbslet)
16675 @end smallexample
16676
16677 @node Sparclite
16678 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
16679
16680 @table @code
16681
16682 @kindex target sparclite
16683 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
16684 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
16685 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
16686 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
16687 remote protocol.
16688
16689 @end table
16690
16691 @node Z8000
16692 @subsection Zilog Z8000
16693
16694 @cindex Z8000
16695 @cindex simulator, Z8000
16696 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
16697
16698 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
16699 a Z8000 simulator.
16700
16701 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
16702 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
16703 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
16704 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
16705
16706 @table @code
16707 @item target sim @var{args}
16708 @kindex sim
16709 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
16710 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
16711 options, specify them via @var{args}.
16712 @end table
16713
16714 @noindent
16715 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
16716 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
16717 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
16718 to run your program, and so on.
16719
16720 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
16721 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
16722 additional items of information as specially named registers:
16723
16724 @table @code
16725
16726 @item cycles
16727 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
16728
16729 @item insts
16730 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
16731
16732 @item time
16733 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
16734
16735 @end table
16736
16737 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
16738 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
16739 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
16740 simulated clock ticks.
16741
16742 @node AVR
16743 @subsection Atmel AVR
16744 @cindex AVR
16745
16746 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
16747 following AVR-specific commands:
16748
16749 @table @code
16750 @item info io_registers
16751 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
16752 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
16753 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
16754 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
16755 @end table
16756
16757 @node CRIS
16758 @subsection CRIS
16759 @cindex CRIS
16760
16761 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
16762 following CRIS-specific commands:
16763
16764 @table @code
16765 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
16766 @cindex CRIS version
16767 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
16768 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
16769 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
16770
16771 @item show cris-version
16772 Show the current CRIS version.
16773
16774 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
16775 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
16776 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
16777 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
16778 @code{R59}.
16779
16780 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
16781 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
16782
16783 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
16784 @cindex CRIS mode
16785 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
16786 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
16787 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
16788
16789 @item show cris-mode
16790 Show the current CRIS mode.
16791 @end table
16792
16793 @node Super-H
16794 @subsection Renesas Super-H
16795 @cindex Super-H
16796
16797 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
16798 commands:
16799
16800 @table @code
16801 @item regs
16802 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
16803 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
16804
16805 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
16806 @kindex set sh calling-convention
16807 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
16808 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
16809 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
16810 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
16811 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
16812 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
16813 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
16814 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
16815 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
16816 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
16817
16818 @item show sh calling-convention
16819 @kindex show sh calling-convention
16820 Show the current calling convention setting.
16821
16822 @end table
16823
16824
16825 @node Architectures
16826 @section Architectures
16827
16828 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
16829 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
16830
16831 @menu
16832 * i386::
16833 * A29K::
16834 * Alpha::
16835 * MIPS::
16836 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
16837 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
16838 * PowerPC::
16839 @end menu
16840
16841 @node i386
16842 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
16843
16844 @table @code
16845 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
16846 @kindex set struct-convention
16847 @cindex struct return convention
16848 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
16849 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
16850 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
16851 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
16852 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
16853 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
16854 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
16855 be returned in a register.
16856
16857 @item show struct-convention
16858 @kindex show struct-convention
16859 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
16860 from functions.
16861 @end table
16862
16863 @node A29K
16864 @subsection A29K
16865
16866 @table @code
16867
16868 @kindex set rstack_high_address
16869 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
16870 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
16871 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
16872 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
16873 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
16874 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
16875 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
16876 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
16877 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
16878 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
16879 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
16880 hexadecimal.
16881
16882 @kindex show rstack_high_address
16883 @item show rstack_high_address
16884 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
16885 processors.
16886
16887 @end table
16888
16889 @node Alpha
16890 @subsection Alpha
16891
16892 See the following section.
16893
16894 @node MIPS
16895 @subsection MIPS
16896
16897 @cindex stack on Alpha
16898 @cindex stack on MIPS
16899 @cindex Alpha stack
16900 @cindex MIPS stack
16901 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
16902 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
16903 find the beginning of a function.
16904
16905 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
16906 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
16907 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
16908 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
16909 commands:
16910
16911 @table @code
16912 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
16913 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
16914 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
16915 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
16916 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
16917 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
16918 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
16919 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
16920
16921 @item show heuristic-fence-post
16922 Display the current limit.
16923 @end table
16924
16925 @noindent
16926 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
16927 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
16928
16929 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
16930 programs:
16931
16932 @table @code
16933 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
16934 @kindex set mips abi
16935 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
16936 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
16937 values of @var{arg} are:
16938
16939 @table @samp
16940 @item auto
16941 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
16942 default).
16943 @item o32
16944 @item o64
16945 @item n32
16946 @item n64
16947 @item eabi32
16948 @item eabi64
16949 @item auto
16950 @end table
16951
16952 @item show mips abi
16953 @kindex show mips abi
16954 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
16955
16956 @item set mipsfpu
16957 @itemx show mipsfpu
16958 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
16959
16960 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
16961 @kindex set mips mask-address
16962 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
16963 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
16964 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
16965 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
16966 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
16967
16968 @item show mips mask-address
16969 @kindex show mips mask-address
16970 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
16971 not.
16972
16973 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
16974 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
16975 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
16976 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
16977 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
16978 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
16979
16980 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
16981 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
16982 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
16983
16984 @item set debug mips
16985 @kindex set debug mips
16986 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
16987 target code in @value{GDBN}.
16988
16989 @item show debug mips
16990 @kindex show debug mips
16991 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
16992 @end table
16993
16994
16995 @node HPPA
16996 @subsection HPPA
16997 @cindex HPPA support
16998
16999 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
17000 following special commands:
17001
17002 @table @code
17003 @item set debug hppa
17004 @kindex set debug hppa
17005 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
17006 messages are to be displayed.
17007
17008 @item show debug hppa
17009 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
17010
17011 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
17012 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
17013 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
17014 given @var{address}.
17015
17016 @end table
17017
17018
17019 @node SPU
17020 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
17021 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
17022 @cindex SPU
17023
17024 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
17025 it provides the following special commands:
17026
17027 @table @code
17028 @item info spu event
17029 @kindex info spu
17030 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
17031 and pending event status.
17032
17033 @item info spu signal
17034 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
17035 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
17036 notification channels.
17037
17038 @item info spu mailbox
17039 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
17040 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
17041 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
17042
17043 @item info spu dma
17044 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
17045 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
17046 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
17047
17048 @item info spu proxydma
17049 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
17050 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
17051 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
17052
17053 @end table
17054
17055 @node PowerPC
17056 @subsection PowerPC
17057 @cindex PowerPC architecture
17058
17059 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
17060 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
17061 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
17062 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
17063 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
17064
17065 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
17066 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
17067 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
17068
17069 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
17070 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
17071
17072
17073 @node Controlling GDB
17074 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
17075
17076 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
17077 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
17078 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
17079 described here.
17080
17081 @menu
17082 * Prompt:: Prompt
17083 * Editing:: Command editing
17084 * Command History:: Command history
17085 * Screen Size:: Screen size
17086 * Numbers:: Numbers
17087 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
17088 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
17089 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
17090 @end menu
17091
17092 @node Prompt
17093 @section Prompt
17094
17095 @cindex prompt
17096
17097 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
17098 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
17099 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
17100 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
17101 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
17102 which one you are talking to.
17103
17104 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
17105 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
17106 or a prompt that does not.
17107
17108 @table @code
17109 @kindex set prompt
17110 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
17111 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
17112
17113 @kindex show prompt
17114 @item show prompt
17115 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
17116 @end table
17117
17118 @node Editing
17119 @section Command Editing
17120 @cindex readline
17121 @cindex command line editing
17122
17123 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
17124 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
17125 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
17126 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
17127 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
17128 debugging sessions.
17129
17130 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
17131 command @code{set}.
17132
17133 @table @code
17134 @kindex set editing
17135 @cindex editing
17136 @item set editing
17137 @itemx set editing on
17138 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
17139
17140 @item set editing off
17141 Disable command line editing.
17142
17143 @kindex show editing
17144 @item show editing
17145 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
17146 @end table
17147
17148 @xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
17149 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
17150 encouraged to read that chapter.
17151
17152 @node Command History
17153 @section Command History
17154 @cindex command history
17155
17156 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
17157 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
17158 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
17159 history facility.
17160
17161 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
17162 package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
17163 Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
17164
17165 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
17166 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
17167 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
17168 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
17169 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
17170 pressed on a line by itself.
17171
17172 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
17173 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
17174 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
17175 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
17176
17177 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
17178 history.
17179
17180 @table @code
17181 @cindex history substitution
17182 @cindex history file
17183 @kindex set history filename
17184 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
17185 @item set history filename @var{fname}
17186 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
17187 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
17188 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
17189 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
17190 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
17191 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
17192 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
17193 is not set.
17194
17195 @cindex save command history
17196 @kindex set history save
17197 @item set history save
17198 @itemx set history save on
17199 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
17200 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
17201
17202 @item set history save off
17203 Stop recording command history in a file.
17204
17205 @cindex history size
17206 @kindex set history size
17207 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
17208 @item set history size @var{size}
17209 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
17210 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
17211 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
17212 @end table
17213
17214 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
17215 @xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
17216
17217 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
17218 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
17219 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
17220 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
17221 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
17222 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
17223 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
17224 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
17225
17226 The commands to control history expansion are:
17227
17228 @table @code
17229 @item set history expansion on
17230 @itemx set history expansion
17231 @kindex set history expansion
17232 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
17233
17234 @item set history expansion off
17235 Disable history expansion.
17236
17237 @c @group
17238 @kindex show history
17239 @item show history
17240 @itemx show history filename
17241 @itemx show history save
17242 @itemx show history size
17243 @itemx show history expansion
17244 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
17245 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
17246 @c @end group
17247 @end table
17248
17249 @table @code
17250 @kindex show commands
17251 @cindex show last commands
17252 @cindex display command history
17253 @item show commands
17254 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
17255
17256 @item show commands @var{n}
17257 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
17258
17259 @item show commands +
17260 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
17261 @end table
17262
17263 @node Screen Size
17264 @section Screen Size
17265 @cindex size of screen
17266 @cindex pauses in output
17267
17268 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
17269 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
17270 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
17271 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
17272 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
17273 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
17274 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
17275 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
17276
17277 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
17278 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
17279 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
17280 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
17281 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
17282 width} commands:
17283
17284 @table @code
17285 @kindex set height
17286 @kindex set width
17287 @kindex show width
17288 @kindex show height
17289 @item set height @var{lpp}
17290 @itemx show height
17291 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
17292 @itemx show width
17293 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
17294 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
17295 commands display the current settings.
17296
17297 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
17298 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
17299 file or to an editor buffer.
17300
17301 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
17302 from wrapping its output.
17303
17304 @item set pagination on
17305 @itemx set pagination off
17306 @kindex set pagination
17307 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
17308 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}.
17309
17310 @item show pagination
17311 @kindex show pagination
17312 Show the current pagination mode.
17313 @end table
17314
17315 @node Numbers
17316 @section Numbers
17317 @cindex number representation
17318 @cindex entering numbers
17319
17320 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
17321 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
17322 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
17323 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
17324 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
17325 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
17326 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
17327 both input and output with the commands described below.
17328
17329 @table @code
17330 @kindex set input-radix
17331 @item set input-radix @var{base}
17332 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
17333 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
17334 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
17335 example, any of
17336
17337 @smallexample
17338 set input-radix 012
17339 set input-radix 10.
17340 set input-radix 0xa
17341 @end smallexample
17342
17343 @noindent
17344 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
17345 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
17346 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
17347 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
17348 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
17349 change the radix.
17350
17351 @kindex set output-radix
17352 @item set output-radix @var{base}
17353 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
17354 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
17355 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
17356
17357 @kindex show input-radix
17358 @item show input-radix
17359 Display the current default base for numeric input.
17360
17361 @kindex show output-radix
17362 @item show output-radix
17363 Display the current default base for numeric display.
17364
17365 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
17366 @itemx show radix
17367 @kindex set radix
17368 @kindex show radix
17369 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
17370 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
17371 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
17372 default value of 10.
17373
17374 @end table
17375
17376 @node ABI
17377 @section Configuring the Current ABI
17378
17379 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
17380 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
17381 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
17382 current ABI.
17383
17384 @cindex OS ABI
17385 @kindex set osabi
17386 @kindex show osabi
17387
17388 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
17389 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
17390 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
17391 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
17392 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
17393 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
17394 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
17395 platform provides.
17396
17397 @table @code
17398 @item show osabi
17399 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
17400
17401 @item set osabi
17402 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
17403
17404 @item set osabi @var{abi}
17405 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
17406 @end table
17407
17408 @cindex float promotion
17409
17410 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
17411 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
17412 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
17413 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
17414 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
17415 @code{double} and then passed.
17416
17417 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
17418 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
17419 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
17420
17421 @table @code
17422 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
17423 @item set coerce-float-to-double
17424 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
17425 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
17426 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
17427
17428 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
17429 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
17430 functions.
17431
17432 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
17433 @item show coerce-float-to-double
17434 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
17435 @end table
17436
17437 @kindex set cp-abi
17438 @kindex show cp-abi
17439 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
17440 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
17441 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
17442 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
17443 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
17444 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
17445 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
17446 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
17447 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
17448 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
17449 ``auto''.
17450
17451 @table @code
17452 @item show cp-abi
17453 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
17454
17455 @item set cp-abi
17456 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
17457
17458 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
17459 @itemx set cp-abi auto
17460 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
17461 @end table
17462
17463 @node Messages/Warnings
17464 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
17465
17466 @cindex verbose operation
17467 @cindex optional warnings
17468 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
17469 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
17470 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
17471 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
17472
17473 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
17474 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
17475 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
17476
17477 @table @code
17478 @kindex set verbose
17479 @item set verbose on
17480 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
17481
17482 @item set verbose off
17483 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
17484
17485 @kindex show verbose
17486 @item show verbose
17487 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
17488 @end table
17489
17490 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
17491 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
17492 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
17493 Symbol Files}).
17494
17495 @table @code
17496
17497 @kindex set complaints
17498 @item set complaints @var{limit}
17499 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
17500 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
17501 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
17502 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
17503
17504 @kindex show complaints
17505 @item show complaints
17506 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
17507
17508 @end table
17509
17510 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
17511 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
17512 you try to run a program which is already running:
17513
17514 @smallexample
17515 (@value{GDBP}) run
17516 The program being debugged has been started already.
17517 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
17518 @end smallexample
17519
17520 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
17521 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
17522
17523 @table @code
17524
17525 @kindex set confirm
17526 @cindex flinching
17527 @cindex confirmation
17528 @cindex stupid questions
17529 @item set confirm off
17530 Disables confirmation requests.
17531
17532 @item set confirm on
17533 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
17534
17535 @kindex show confirm
17536 @item show confirm
17537 Displays state of confirmation requests.
17538
17539 @end table
17540
17541 @cindex command tracing
17542 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
17543 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
17544 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
17545 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
17546
17547 @table @code
17548 @kindex set trace-commands
17549 @cindex command scripts, debugging
17550 @item set trace-commands on
17551 Enable command tracing.
17552 @item set trace-commands off
17553 Disable command tracing.
17554 @item show trace-commands
17555 Display the current state of command tracing.
17556 @end table
17557
17558 @node Debugging Output
17559 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
17560 @cindex optional debugging messages
17561
17562 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
17563 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
17564 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
17565 section documents those commands.
17566
17567 @table @code
17568 @kindex set exec-done-display
17569 @item set exec-done-display
17570 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
17571 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
17572 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
17573 @kindex show exec-done-display
17574 @item show exec-done-display
17575 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
17576 notification.
17577 @kindex set debug
17578 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
17579 @cindex architecture debugging info
17580 @item set debug arch
17581 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
17582 @kindex show debug
17583 @item show debug arch
17584 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
17585 @item set debug aix-thread
17586 @cindex AIX threads
17587 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
17588 module.
17589 @item show debug aix-thread
17590 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
17591 @item set debug dwarf2-die
17592 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
17593 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
17594 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
17595 A value of zero turns off the display.
17596 @item show debug dwarf2-die
17597 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
17598 @item set debug displaced
17599 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
17600 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
17601 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
17602 @item show debug displaced
17603 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
17604 related to displaced stepping.
17605 @item set debug event
17606 @cindex event debugging info
17607 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
17608 default is off.
17609 @item show debug event
17610 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
17611 info.
17612 @item set debug expression
17613 @cindex expression debugging info
17614 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
17615 expression parsing. The default is off.
17616 @item show debug expression
17617 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
17618 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
17619 @item set debug frame
17620 @cindex frame debugging info
17621 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
17622 default is off.
17623 @item show debug frame
17624 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
17625 info.
17626 @item set debug infrun
17627 @cindex inferior debugging info
17628 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
17629 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
17630 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
17631 @item show debug infrun
17632 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
17633 @item set debug lin-lwp
17634 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
17635 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
17636 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
17637 @item show debug lin-lwp
17638 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
17639 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
17640 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
17641 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
17642 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
17643 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
17644 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
17645 @item set debug observer
17646 @cindex observer debugging info
17647 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
17648 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
17649 @item show debug observer
17650 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
17651 @item set debug overload
17652 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
17653 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
17654 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
17655 is off.
17656 @item show debug overload
17657 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
17658 debugging info.
17659 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
17660 @cindex serial connections, debugging
17661 @cindex debug remote protocol
17662 @cindex remote protocol debugging
17663 @cindex display remote packets
17664 @item set debug remote
17665 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
17666 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
17667 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
17668 @item show debug remote
17669 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
17670 @item set debug serial
17671 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
17672 default is off.
17673 @item show debug serial
17674 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
17675 info.
17676 @item set debug solib-frv
17677 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
17678 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
17679 @item show debug solib-frv
17680 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
17681 messages.
17682 @item set debug target
17683 @cindex target debugging info
17684 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
17685 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
17686 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
17687 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
17688 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
17689 @item show debug target
17690 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
17691 info.
17692 @item set debug timestamp
17693 @cindex timestampping debugging info
17694 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
17695 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
17696 message.
17697 @item show debug timestamp
17698 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
17699 debugging info.
17700 @item set debugvarobj
17701 @cindex variable object debugging info
17702 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
17703 info. The default is off.
17704 @item show debugvarobj
17705 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
17706 debugging info.
17707 @item set debug xml
17708 @cindex XML parser debugging
17709 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
17710 @item show debug xml
17711 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
17712 @end table
17713
17714 @node Extending GDB
17715 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
17716 @cindex extending GDB
17717
17718 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
17719 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
17720 Python scripting language.
17721
17722 @menu
17723 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
17724 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
17725 @end menu
17726
17727 @node Sequences
17728 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
17729
17730 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
17731 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
17732 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
17733 files.
17734
17735 @menu
17736 * Define:: How to define your own commands
17737 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
17738 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
17739 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
17740 @end menu
17741
17742 @node Define
17743 @subsection User-defined Commands
17744
17745 @cindex user-defined command
17746 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
17747 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
17748 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
17749 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
17750 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
17751 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
17752
17753 @smallexample
17754 define adder
17755 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
17756 end
17757 @end smallexample
17758
17759 @noindent
17760 To execute the command use:
17761
17762 @smallexample
17763 adder 1 2 3
17764 @end smallexample
17765
17766 @noindent
17767 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
17768 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
17769 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
17770 functions calls.
17771
17772 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
17773 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
17774 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
17775 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
17776
17777 @smallexample
17778 define adder
17779 if $argc == 2
17780 print $arg0 + $arg1
17781 end
17782 if $argc == 3
17783 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
17784 end
17785 end
17786 @end smallexample
17787
17788 @table @code
17789
17790 @kindex define
17791 @item define @var{commandname}
17792 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
17793 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
17794 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
17795 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
17796 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
17797 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
17798
17799 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
17800 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
17801 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
17802
17803 @kindex document
17804 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
17805 @item document @var{commandname}
17806 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
17807 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
17808 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
17809 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
17810 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
17811 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
17812
17813 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
17814 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
17815 does not change the documentation.
17816
17817 @kindex dont-repeat
17818 @cindex don't repeat command
17819 @item dont-repeat
17820 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
17821 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
17822 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
17823
17824 @kindex help user-defined
17825 @item help user-defined
17826 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
17827 (if any) for each.
17828
17829 @kindex show user
17830 @item show user
17831 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
17832 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
17833 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
17834 definitions for all user-defined commands.
17835
17836 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
17837 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
17838 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
17839 @item show max-user-call-depth
17840 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
17841 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
17842 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
17843 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
17844 @end table
17845
17846 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
17847 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
17848
17849 When user-defined commands are executed, the
17850 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
17851 stops execution of the user-defined command.
17852
17853 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
17854 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
17855 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
17856 messages when used in a user-defined command.
17857
17858 @node Hooks
17859 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
17860 @cindex command hooks
17861 @cindex hooks, for commands
17862 @cindex hooks, pre-command
17863
17864 @kindex hook
17865 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
17866 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
17867 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
17868 before that command.
17869
17870 @cindex hooks, post-command
17871 @kindex hookpost
17872 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
17873 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
17874 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
17875 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
17876 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
17877
17878 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
17879 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
17880
17881 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
17882 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
17883
17884 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
17885 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
17886 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
17887 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
17888 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
17889
17890 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
17891 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
17892 you could define:
17893
17894 @smallexample
17895 define hook-stop
17896 handle SIGALRM nopass
17897 end
17898
17899 define hook-run
17900 handle SIGALRM pass
17901 end
17902
17903 define hook-continue
17904 handle SIGALRM pass
17905 end
17906 @end smallexample
17907
17908 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
17909 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
17910 you could define:
17911
17912 @smallexample
17913 define hook-echo
17914 echo <<<---
17915 end
17916
17917 define hookpost-echo
17918 echo --->>>\n
17919 end
17920
17921 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
17922 <<<---Hello World--->>>
17923 (@value{GDBP})
17924
17925 @end smallexample
17926
17927 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
17928 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
17929 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
17930 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
17931 @c or not?
17932 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
17933 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
17934 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
17935
17936 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
17937 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
17938 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
17939
17940 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
17941 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
17942
17943 @node Command Files
17944 @subsection Command Files
17945
17946 @cindex command files
17947 @cindex scripting commands
17948 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
17949 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
17950 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
17951 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
17952 terminal.
17953
17954 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
17955 command:
17956
17957 @table @code
17958 @kindex source
17959 @cindex execute commands from a file
17960 @item source [@code{-v}] @var{filename}
17961 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
17962 @end table
17963
17964 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
17965 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
17966 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
17967 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
17968 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
17969
17970 @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename} in the current directory and then
17971 on the search path (specified with the @samp{directory} command).
17972
17973 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
17974 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
17975 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
17976
17977 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
17978 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
17979 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
17980 when called from command files.
17981
17982 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
17983 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
17984 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
17985 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
17986 the next command.
17987
17988 @smallexample
17989 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
17990 @end smallexample
17991
17992 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
17993 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
17994 would be directed to @file{log}.
17995
17996 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
17997 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
17998 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
17999 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
18000 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
18001 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
18002 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
18003 conditionally, etc.
18004
18005 @table @code
18006 @kindex if
18007 @kindex else
18008 @item if
18009 @itemx else
18010 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
18011 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
18012 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
18013 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
18014 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
18015 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
18016 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
18017
18018 @kindex while
18019 @item while
18020 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
18021 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
18022 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
18023 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
18024 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
18025 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
18026
18027 @kindex loop_break
18028 @item loop_break
18029 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
18030 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
18031 line.
18032
18033 @kindex loop_continue
18034 @item loop_continue
18035 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
18036 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
18037 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
18038 the controlling expression.
18039
18040 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
18041 @item end
18042 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
18043 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
18044 @end table
18045
18046
18047 @node Output
18048 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
18049
18050 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
18051 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
18052 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
18053 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
18054 want.
18055
18056 @table @code
18057 @kindex echo
18058 @item echo @var{text}
18059 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
18060 @c because it is not in ANSI.
18061 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
18062 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
18063 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
18064 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
18065 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
18066 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
18067 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
18068 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
18069 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
18070
18071 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
18072 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
18073
18074 @smallexample
18075 echo This is some text\n\
18076 which is continued\n\
18077 onto several lines.\n
18078 @end smallexample
18079
18080 produces the same output as
18081
18082 @smallexample
18083 echo This is some text\n
18084 echo which is continued\n
18085 echo onto several lines.\n
18086 @end smallexample
18087
18088 @kindex output
18089 @item output @var{expression}
18090 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
18091 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
18092 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
18093 on expressions.
18094
18095 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
18096 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
18097 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
18098 Formats}, for more information.
18099
18100 @kindex printf
18101 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
18102 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
18103 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
18104 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
18105 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
18106 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
18107 executing the code below:
18108
18109 @smallexample
18110 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
18111 @end smallexample
18112
18113 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
18114 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
18115 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
18116 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
18117 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
18118 printed.
18119
18120 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
18121
18122 @smallexample
18123 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
18124 @end smallexample
18125
18126 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
18127 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
18128 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
18129
18130 @itemize @bullet
18131 @item
18132 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
18133
18134 @item
18135 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
18136 width.
18137
18138 @item
18139 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
18140 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
18141
18142 @item
18143 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
18144 supported.
18145
18146 @item
18147 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
18148
18149 @item
18150 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
18151 @end itemize
18152
18153 @noindent
18154 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
18155 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
18156 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
18157 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
18158
18159 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
18160 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
18161 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
18162 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
18163 supported.
18164
18165 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
18166 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
18167 together with a floating point specifier.
18168 letters:
18169
18170 @itemize @bullet
18171 @item
18172 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
18173
18174 @item
18175 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
18176
18177 @item
18178 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
18179 @end itemize
18180
18181 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
18182 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
18183 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
18184
18185 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
18186 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
18187
18188 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
18189 @smallexample
18190 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
18191 @end smallexample
18192
18193 @end table
18194
18195 @node Python
18196 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
18197 @cindex python scripting
18198 @cindex scripting with python
18199
18200 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
18201 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
18202 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
18203
18204 @menu
18205 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
18206 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
18207 @end menu
18208
18209 @node Python Commands
18210 @subsection Python Commands
18211 @cindex python commands
18212 @cindex commands to access python
18213
18214 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
18215 and one related setting:
18216
18217 @table @code
18218 @kindex python
18219 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
18220 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
18221
18222 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
18223 argument as a Python command. For example:
18224
18225 @smallexample
18226 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
18227 23
18228 @end smallexample
18229
18230 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
18231 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
18232 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
18233 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
18234 containing @code{end}. For example:
18235
18236 @smallexample
18237 (@value{GDBP}) python
18238 Type python script
18239 End with a line saying just "end".
18240 >print 23
18241 >end
18242 23
18243 @end smallexample
18244
18245 @kindex maint set python print-stack
18246 @item maint set python print-stack
18247 By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
18248 in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
18249 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
18250 printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
18251 disabled.
18252 @end table
18253
18254 @node Python API
18255 @subsection Python API
18256 @cindex python api
18257 @cindex programming in python
18258
18259 @cindex python stdout
18260 @cindex python pagination
18261 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
18262 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
18263 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
18264 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
18265 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
18266
18267 @menu
18268 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
18269 * Exception Handling::
18270 * Values From Inferior::
18271 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
18272 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
18273 * Frames In Python:: Acessing inferior stack frames from Python.
18274 @end menu
18275
18276 @node Basic Python
18277 @subsubsection Basic Python
18278
18279 @cindex python functions
18280 @cindex python module
18281 @cindex gdb module
18282 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
18283 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
18284 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
18285 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
18286
18287 @findex gdb.execute
18288 @defun execute command [from_tty]
18289 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
18290 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
18291 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
18292 If no exceptions occur, this function returns @code{None}.
18293
18294 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
18295 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
18296 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
18297 @end defun
18298
18299 @findex gdb.get_parameter
18300 @defun get_parameter parameter
18301 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
18302 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
18303 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
18304 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
18305
18306 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
18307 @code{RuntimeError}. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
18308 a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
18309 @end defun
18310
18311 @findex gdb.history
18312 @defun history number
18313 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
18314 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
18315 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
18316 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
18317 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
18318 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
18319 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{RuntimeError} exception will be
18320 raised.
18321
18322 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
18323 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
18324 @end defun
18325
18326 @findex gdb.write
18327 @defun write string
18328 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
18329 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
18330 call this function.
18331 @end defun
18332
18333 @findex gdb.flush
18334 @defun flush
18335 Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
18336 @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
18337 function.
18338 @end defun
18339
18340 @node Exception Handling
18341 @subsubsection Exception Handling
18342 @cindex python exceptions
18343 @cindex exceptions, python
18344
18345 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
18346 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
18347 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
18348 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
18349 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
18350 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
18351 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
18352
18353 @smallexample
18354 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
18355 Traceback (most recent call last):
18356 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
18357 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
18358 @end smallexample
18359
18360 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by Python
18361 code are converted to Python @code{RuntimeError} exceptions. User
18362 interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
18363 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt}
18364 exception. If you catch these exceptions in your Python code, your
18365 exception handler will see @code{RuntimeError} or
18366 @code{KeyboardInterrupt} as the exception type, the @value{GDBN} error
18367 message as its value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the
18368 Python statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
18369 traceback.
18370
18371 @node Values From Inferior
18372 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
18373 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
18374 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
18375
18376 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
18377 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
18378 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
18379 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
18380 fetching values when necessary.
18381
18382 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
18383 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
18384 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
18385
18386 @smallexample
18387 bar = some_val + 2
18388 @end smallexample
18389
18390 @noindent
18391 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
18392 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
18393
18394 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
18395 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
18396 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
18397 can access its @code{foo} element with:
18398
18399 @smallexample
18400 bar = some_val['foo']
18401 @end smallexample
18402
18403 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
18404
18405 The following attributes are provided:
18406
18407 @table @code
18408 @defmethod Value address
18409 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
18410 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
18411 this attribute holds @code{None}.
18412 @end defmethod
18413
18414 @cindex optimized out value in Python
18415 @defmethod Value is_optimized_out
18416 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
18417 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
18418 @end defmethod
18419 @end table
18420
18421 The following methods are provided:
18422
18423 @table @code
18424 @defmethod Value dereference
18425 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
18426 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
18427 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
18428
18429 @smallexample
18430 int *foo;
18431 @end smallexample
18432
18433 @noindent
18434 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
18435 @code{foo} points to like this:
18436
18437 @smallexample
18438 bar = foo.dereference ()
18439 @end smallexample
18440
18441 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
18442 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
18443 @end defmethod
18444
18445 @defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]}
18446 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
18447 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
18448 throw an exception.
18449
18450 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
18451 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
18452 language.
18453
18454 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
18455 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
18456 by a zero of the appropriate width.
18457
18458 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
18459 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
18460 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
18461 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
18462 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
18463 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
18464 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
18465 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
18466 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
18467
18468 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
18469 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
18470 @end defmethod
18471 @end table
18472
18473 @node Commands In Python
18474 @subsubsection Commands In Python
18475
18476 @cindex commands in python
18477 @cindex python commands
18478 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
18479 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
18480 class, most commonly using a subclass.
18481
18482 @defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
18483 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
18484 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
18485 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
18486
18487 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
18488 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
18489 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
18490 an exception is raised.
18491
18492 There is no support for multi-line commands.
18493
18494 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
18495 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
18496 new command in the help system.
18497
18498 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
18499 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
18500 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
18501 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
18502 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
18503 error will occur when completion is attempted.
18504
18505 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
18506 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
18507 registered.
18508
18509 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
18510 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
18511 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
18512 not documented.'' is used.
18513 @end defmethod
18514
18515 @cindex don't repeat Python command
18516 @defmethod Command dont_repeat
18517 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
18518 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
18519 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
18520 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
18521 @end defmethod
18522
18523 @defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
18524 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
18525
18526 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
18527 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
18528
18529 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
18530 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
18531 that the command came from elsewhere.
18532
18533 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
18534 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
18535 @end defmethod
18536
18537 @cindex completion of Python commands
18538 @defmethod Command complete text word
18539 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
18540 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
18541 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
18542 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
18543 complete}).
18544
18545 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
18546 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
18547 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
18548 using a word-breaking heuristic.
18549
18550 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
18551 @itemize @bullet
18552 @item
18553 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
18554 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
18555 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
18556 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
18557 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
18558 sequence are ignored.
18559
18560 @item
18561 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
18562 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
18563 function is invoked, and its result is used.
18564
18565 @item
18566 All other results are treated as though there were no available
18567 completions.
18568 @end itemize
18569 @end defmethod
18570
18571 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
18572 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
18573 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
18574 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
18575 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
18576 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
18577
18578 @table @code
18579 @findex COMMAND_NONE
18580 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
18581 @item COMMAND_NONE
18582 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
18583 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
18584
18585 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
18586 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
18587 @item COMMAND_RUNNING
18588 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
18589 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
18590 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
18591 commands in this category.
18592
18593 @findex COMMAND_DATA
18594 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
18595 @item COMMAND_DATA
18596 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
18597 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
18598 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
18599 in this category.
18600
18601 @findex COMMAND_STACK
18602 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
18603 @item COMMAND_STACK
18604 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
18605 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
18606 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
18607 list of commands in this category.
18608
18609 @findex COMMAND_FILES
18610 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
18611 @item COMMAND_FILES
18612 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
18613 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
18614 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
18615 commands in this category.
18616
18617 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
18618 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
18619 @item COMMAND_SUPPORT
18620 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
18621 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
18622 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
18623 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
18624 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
18625 commands in this category.
18626
18627 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
18628 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
18629 @item COMMAND_STATUS
18630 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
18631 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
18632 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
18633 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
18634
18635 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
18636 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
18637 @item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
18638 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
18639 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
18640 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
18641 this category.
18642
18643 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
18644 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
18645 @item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
18646 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
18647 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
18648 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
18649 commands in this category.
18650
18651 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
18652 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
18653 @item COMMAND_OBSCURE
18654 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
18655 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
18656 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
18657 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
18658 category.
18659
18660 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
18661 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
18662 @item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
18663 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
18664 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
18665 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
18666 commands in this category.
18667 @end table
18668
18669 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
18670 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
18671 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
18672 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
18673
18674 @table @code
18675 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
18676 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
18677 @item COMPLETE_NONE
18678 This constant means that no completion should be done.
18679
18680 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
18681 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
18682 @item COMPLETE_FILENAME
18683 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
18684
18685 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
18686 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
18687 @item COMPLETE_LOCATION
18688 This constant means that location completion should be done.
18689 @xref{Specify Location}.
18690
18691 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
18692 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
18693 @item COMPLETE_COMMAND
18694 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
18695 command names.
18696
18697 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
18698 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
18699 @item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
18700 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
18701 as the source.
18702 @end table
18703
18704 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
18705 implemented in Python:
18706
18707 @smallexample
18708 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
18709 """Greet the whole world."""
18710
18711 def __init__ (self):
18712 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
18713
18714 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
18715 print "Hello, World!"
18716
18717 HelloWorld ()
18718 @end smallexample
18719
18720 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
18721 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
18722 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
18723 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
18724
18725 @node Functions In Python
18726 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
18727
18728 @cindex writing convenience functions
18729 @cindex convenience functions in python
18730 @cindex python convenience functions
18731 @tindex gdb.Function
18732 @tindex Function
18733 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
18734 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
18735 class @code{gdb.Function}.
18736
18737 @defmethod Function __init__ name
18738 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
18739 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
18740 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
18741 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
18742 the given @var{name}.
18743
18744 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
18745 string for the new class.
18746 @end defmethod
18747
18748 @defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
18749 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
18750 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
18751 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
18752 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
18753 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
18754 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
18755 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
18756
18757 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
18758 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
18759 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
18760 @end defmethod
18761
18762 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
18763 be implemented in Python:
18764
18765 @smallexample
18766 class Greet (gdb.Function):
18767 """Return string to greet someone.
18768 Takes a name as argument."""
18769
18770 def __init__ (self):
18771 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
18772
18773 def invoke (self, name):
18774 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
18775
18776 Greet ()
18777 @end smallexample
18778
18779 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
18780 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
18781 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
18782 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
18783
18784 @node Frames In Python
18785 @subsubsection Acessing inferior stack frames from Python.
18786
18787 @cindex frames in python
18788 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
18789 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
18790 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
18791 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
18792 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{RuntimeError}
18793 exception.
18794
18795 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
18796 operator, like:
18797
18798 @smallexample
18799 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
18800 True
18801 @end smallexample
18802
18803 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
18804
18805 @findex gdb.selected_frame
18806 @defun selected_frame
18807 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
18808 @end defun
18809
18810 @defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
18811 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
18812 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
18813 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
18814 @end defun
18815
18816 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
18817
18818 @table @code
18819 @defmethod Frame is_valid
18820 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
18821 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
18822 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
18823 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
18824 @end defmethod
18825
18826 @defmethod Frame name
18827 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
18828 obtained.
18829 @end defmethod
18830
18831 @defmethod Frame type
18832 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of
18833 @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, @code{gdb.DUMMY_FRAME}, @code{gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME}
18834 or @code{gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME}.
18835 @end defmethod
18836
18837 @defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
18838 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
18839 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
18840 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
18841 function to a string.
18842 @end defmethod
18843
18844 @defmethod Frame pc
18845 Returns the frame's resume address.
18846 @end defmethod
18847
18848 @defmethod Frame older
18849 Return the frame that called this frame.
18850 @end defmethod
18851
18852 @defmethod Frame newer
18853 Return the frame called by this frame.
18854 @end defmethod
18855
18856 @defmethod Frame read_var variable
18857 Return the value of the given variable in this frame. @var{variable} must
18858 be a string.
18859 @end defmethod
18860 @end table
18861
18862 @node Interpreters
18863 @chapter Command Interpreters
18864 @cindex command interpreters
18865
18866 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
18867 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
18868 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
18869
18870 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
18871 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
18872 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
18873 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
18874
18875 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
18876 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
18877 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
18878 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
18879
18880 @table @code
18881 @item console
18882 @cindex console interpreter
18883 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
18884 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
18885 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
18886
18887 @item mi
18888 @cindex mi interpreter
18889 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
18890 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
18891 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
18892 Interface}.
18893
18894 @item mi2
18895 @cindex mi2 interpreter
18896 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
18897
18898 @item mi1
18899 @cindex mi1 interpreter
18900 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
18901
18902 @end table
18903
18904 @cindex invoke another interpreter
18905 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
18906 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
18907 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
18908 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
18909 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
18910 the IDE inoperable!
18911
18912 @kindex interpreter-exec
18913 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
18914 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
18915 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
18916 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
18917
18918 @smallexample
18919 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
18920 @end smallexample
18921
18922 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
18923 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
18924
18925 @node TUI
18926 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
18927 @cindex TUI
18928 @cindex Text User Interface
18929
18930 @menu
18931 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
18932 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
18933 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
18934 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
18935 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
18936 @end menu
18937
18938 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
18939 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
18940 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
18941 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
18942 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
18943 is available.
18944
18945 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
18946 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
18947 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
18948 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
18949 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
18950 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
18951
18952 @node TUI Overview
18953 @section TUI Overview
18954
18955 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
18956
18957 @table @emph
18958 @item command
18959 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
18960 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
18961 managed using readline.
18962
18963 @item source
18964 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
18965 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
18966
18967 @item assembly
18968 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
18969
18970 @item register
18971 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
18972 when their values change.
18973 @end table
18974
18975 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
18976 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
18977 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
18978 indicates the breakpoint type:
18979
18980 @table @code
18981 @item B
18982 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
18983
18984 @item b
18985 Breakpoint which was never hit.
18986
18987 @item H
18988 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
18989
18990 @item h
18991 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
18992 @end table
18993
18994 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
18995
18996 @table @code
18997 @item +
18998 Breakpoint is enabled.
18999
19000 @item -
19001 Breakpoint is disabled.
19002 @end table
19003
19004 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
19005 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
19006 changes.
19007
19008 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
19009 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
19010 layouts:
19011
19012 @itemize @bullet
19013 @item
19014 source only,
19015
19016 @item
19017 assembly only,
19018
19019 @item
19020 source and assembly,
19021
19022 @item
19023 source and registers, or
19024
19025 @item
19026 assembly and registers.
19027 @end itemize
19028
19029 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
19030
19031 @table @emph
19032 @item target
19033 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
19034 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
19035
19036 @item process
19037 Gives the current process or thread number.
19038 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
19039
19040 @item function
19041 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
19042 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
19043 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
19044 the string @code{??} is displayed.
19045
19046 @item line
19047 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
19048 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
19049
19050 @item pc
19051 Indicates the current program counter address.
19052 @end table
19053
19054 @node TUI Keys
19055 @section TUI Key Bindings
19056 @cindex TUI key bindings
19057
19058 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
19059 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
19060 are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
19061
19062 @table @kbd
19063 @kindex C-x C-a
19064 @item C-x C-a
19065 @kindex C-x a
19066 @itemx C-x a
19067 @kindex C-x A
19068 @itemx C-x A
19069 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
19070 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
19071 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
19072 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
19073 The screen is then refreshed.
19074
19075 @kindex C-x 1
19076 @item C-x 1
19077 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
19078 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
19079 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
19080
19081 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
19082
19083 @kindex C-x 2
19084 @item C-x 2
19085 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
19086 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
19087 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
19088 previous layout and the new one.
19089
19090 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
19091
19092 @kindex C-x o
19093 @item C-x o
19094 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
19095 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
19096 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
19097
19098 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
19099
19100 @kindex C-x s
19101 @item C-x s
19102 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
19103 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
19104 @end table
19105
19106 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
19107
19108 @table @asis
19109 @kindex PgUp
19110 @item @key{PgUp}
19111 Scroll the active window one page up.
19112
19113 @kindex PgDn
19114 @item @key{PgDn}
19115 Scroll the active window one page down.
19116
19117 @kindex Up
19118 @item @key{Up}
19119 Scroll the active window one line up.
19120
19121 @kindex Down
19122 @item @key{Down}
19123 Scroll the active window one line down.
19124
19125 @kindex Left
19126 @item @key{Left}
19127 Scroll the active window one column left.
19128
19129 @kindex Right
19130 @item @key{Right}
19131 Scroll the active window one column right.
19132
19133 @kindex C-L
19134 @item @kbd{C-L}
19135 Refresh the screen.
19136 @end table
19137
19138 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
19139 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
19140 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
19141 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
19142 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
19143
19144 @node TUI Single Key Mode
19145 @section TUI Single Key Mode
19146 @cindex TUI single key mode
19147
19148 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
19149 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
19150 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
19151
19152 @table @kbd
19153 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
19154 @item c
19155 continue
19156
19157 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
19158 @item d
19159 down
19160
19161 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
19162 @item f
19163 finish
19164
19165 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
19166 @item n
19167 next
19168
19169 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
19170 @item q
19171 exit the SingleKey mode.
19172
19173 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
19174 @item r
19175 run
19176
19177 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
19178 @item s
19179 step
19180
19181 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
19182 @item u
19183 up
19184
19185 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
19186 @item v
19187 info locals
19188
19189 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
19190 @item w
19191 where
19192 @end table
19193
19194 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
19195 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
19196 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
19197 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
19198 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
19199 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
19200
19201
19202 @node TUI Commands
19203 @section TUI-specific Commands
19204 @cindex TUI commands
19205
19206 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
19207 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
19208 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
19209 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
19210
19211 @table @code
19212 @item info win
19213 @kindex info win
19214 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
19215
19216 @item layout next
19217 @kindex layout
19218 Display the next layout.
19219
19220 @item layout prev
19221 Display the previous layout.
19222
19223 @item layout src
19224 Display the source window only.
19225
19226 @item layout asm
19227 Display the assembly window only.
19228
19229 @item layout split
19230 Display the source and assembly window.
19231
19232 @item layout regs
19233 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
19234
19235 @item focus next
19236 @kindex focus
19237 Make the next window active for scrolling.
19238
19239 @item focus prev
19240 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
19241
19242 @item focus src
19243 Make the source window active for scrolling.
19244
19245 @item focus asm
19246 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
19247
19248 @item focus regs
19249 Make the register window active for scrolling.
19250
19251 @item focus cmd
19252 Make the command window active for scrolling.
19253
19254 @item refresh
19255 @kindex refresh
19256 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
19257
19258 @item tui reg float
19259 @kindex tui reg
19260 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
19261
19262 @item tui reg general
19263 Show the general registers in the register window.
19264
19265 @item tui reg next
19266 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
19267 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
19268 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
19269 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
19270
19271 @item tui reg system
19272 Show the system registers in the register window.
19273
19274 @item update
19275 @kindex update
19276 Update the source window and the current execution point.
19277
19278 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
19279 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
19280 @kindex winheight
19281 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
19282 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
19283 decrease it.
19284
19285 @item tabset @var{nchars}
19286 @kindex tabset
19287 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
19288 @end table
19289
19290 @node TUI Configuration
19291 @section TUI Configuration Variables
19292 @cindex TUI configuration variables
19293
19294 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
19295
19296 @table @code
19297 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
19298 @kindex set tui border-kind
19299 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
19300 The possible values are the following:
19301 @table @code
19302 @item space
19303 Use a space character to draw the border.
19304
19305 @item ascii
19306 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
19307
19308 @item acs
19309 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
19310 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
19311 @end table
19312
19313 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
19314 @kindex set tui border-mode
19315 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
19316 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
19317 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
19318 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
19319 @table @code
19320 @item normal
19321 Use normal attributes to display the border.
19322
19323 @item standout
19324 Use standout mode.
19325
19326 @item reverse
19327 Use reverse video mode.
19328
19329 @item half
19330 Use half bright mode.
19331
19332 @item half-standout
19333 Use half bright and standout mode.
19334
19335 @item bold
19336 Use extra bright or bold mode.
19337
19338 @item bold-standout
19339 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
19340 @end table
19341 @end table
19342
19343 @node Emacs
19344 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
19345
19346 @cindex Emacs
19347 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
19348 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
19349 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
19350 @value{GDBN}.
19351
19352 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
19353 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
19354 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
19355 created Emacs buffer.
19356 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
19357
19358 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
19359 things:
19360
19361 @itemize @bullet
19362 @item
19363 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
19364 the GUD buffer.
19365
19366 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
19367 and output done by the program you are debugging.
19368
19369 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
19370 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
19371 in this way.
19372
19373 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
19374 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
19375 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
19376 stop.
19377
19378 @item
19379 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
19380
19381 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
19382 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
19383 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
19384 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
19385 and the source.
19386
19387 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
19388 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
19389 @end itemize
19390
19391 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
19392 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
19393 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
19394 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
19395
19396 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
19397 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
19398 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
19399 sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
19400 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
19401 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
19402 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
19403 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
19404 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
19405
19406 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
19407 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
19408 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
19409 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
19410
19411 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
19412 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
19413 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
19414 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
19415 one you want.
19416
19417 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
19418 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
19419
19420 @table @kbd
19421 @item C-h m
19422 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
19423
19424 @item C-c C-s
19425 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
19426 update the display window to show the current file and location.
19427
19428 @item C-c C-n
19429 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
19430 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
19431 to show the current file and location.
19432
19433 @item C-c C-i
19434 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
19435 display window accordingly.
19436
19437 @item C-c C-f
19438 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
19439 @code{finish} command.
19440
19441 @item C-c C-r
19442 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
19443 command.
19444
19445 @item C-c <
19446 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
19447 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
19448 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
19449
19450 @item C-c >
19451 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
19452 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
19453 @end table
19454
19455 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
19456 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
19457
19458 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
19459 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
19460 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
19461 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
19462 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
19463 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
19464 speedbar displays watch expressions.
19465
19466 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
19467 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
19468 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
19469 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
19470 frame.
19471
19472 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
19473 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
19474 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
19475 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
19476 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
19477 to correspond properly with the code.
19478
19479 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
19480 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
19481 Emacs Manual}).
19482
19483 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
19484 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
19485 @ignore
19486 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
19487 @kindex Epoch
19488 @kindex inspect
19489
19490 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
19491 called the @code{epoch}
19492 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
19493 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
19494 each value is printed in its own window.
19495 @end ignore
19496
19497
19498 @node GDB/MI
19499 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
19500
19501 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
19502
19503 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
19504 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
19505 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
19506 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
19507 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
19508 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
19509
19510 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
19511 in the form of a reference manual.
19512
19513 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
19514 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
19515 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
19516
19517 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
19518
19519 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
19520 This chapter uses the following notation:
19521
19522 @itemize @bullet
19523 @item
19524 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
19525
19526 @item
19527 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
19528 it may or may not be given.
19529
19530 @item
19531 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
19532 may repeat zero or more times.
19533
19534 @item
19535 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
19536 may repeat one or more times.
19537
19538 @item
19539 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
19540 @end itemize
19541
19542 @ignore
19543 @heading Dependencies
19544 @end ignore
19545
19546 @menu
19547 * GDB/MI General Design::
19548 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
19549 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
19550 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
19551 * GDB/MI Output Records::
19552 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
19553 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
19554 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
19555 * GDB/MI Program Context::
19556 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
19557 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
19558 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
19559 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
19560 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
19561 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
19562 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
19563 * GDB/MI File Commands::
19564 @ignore
19565 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
19566 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
19567 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
19568 @end ignore
19569 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
19570 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
19571 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
19572 @end menu
19573
19574 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19575 @node GDB/MI General Design
19576 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
19577 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
19578
19579 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
19580 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
19581 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
19582 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
19583 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
19584 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
19585 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
19586 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
19587 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
19588 a command and reported as part of that command response.
19589
19590 The important examples of notifications are:
19591 @itemize @bullet
19592
19593 @item
19594 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
19595 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
19596 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
19597 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
19598 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
19599 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
19600 command itself was successfully executed.
19601
19602 @item
19603 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
19604 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
19605 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
19606 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
19607 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
19608 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
19609
19610 @item
19611 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
19612 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
19613 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
19614 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
19615 orthogonal frontend design.
19616
19617 @end itemize
19618
19619 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
19620 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
19621 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
19622 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
19623 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
19624 the user interface.
19625
19626 @subsection Context management
19627
19628 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
19629 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
19630 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
19631 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
19632 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
19633 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
19634 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
19635 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
19636 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
19637
19638 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
19639 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
19640 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
19641 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
19642 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
19643 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
19644 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
19645 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
19646 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
19647 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
19648 for thread and frame to operate on.
19649
19650 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
19651 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
19652 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
19653 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
19654 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
19655 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
19656 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
19657 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
19658 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
19659 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
19660
19661 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
19662 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
19663 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
19664 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
19665 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
19666 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
19667 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
19668 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
19669 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
19670 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
19671 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
19672 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
19673 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
19674 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
19675 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
19676 @samp{--frame} options.
19677
19678 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
19679
19680 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
19681 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
19682 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
19683 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
19684 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
19685 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
19686 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
19687 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
19688 @code{-list-target-features} command.
19689
19690 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
19691 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
19692 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
19693 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
19694 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
19695 are running.
19696
19697 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
19698 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
19699 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
19700 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
19701 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
19702 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
19703 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
19704 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
19705 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
19706 @samp{--thread} option).
19707
19708 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
19709 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
19710 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
19711 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
19712
19713 @subsection Thread groups
19714 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
19715 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
19716 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
19717 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
19718 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
19719
19720 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
19721 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
19722 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
19723 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
19724 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
19725 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
19726 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
19727 into processes.
19728
19729 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
19730 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
19731 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
19732 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
19733 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
19734 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
19735 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
19736 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
19737 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
19738 the members of specific thread group.
19739
19740 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
19741 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
19742 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
19743 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
19744 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
19745 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
19746 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
19747 after attaching to that thread group.
19748
19749 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19750 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
19751 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
19752
19753 @menu
19754 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
19755 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
19756 @end menu
19757
19758 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
19759 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
19760
19761 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
19762 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
19763 @table @code
19764 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
19765 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
19766
19767 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
19768 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
19769 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
19770
19771 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
19772 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
19773 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
19774
19775 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
19776 "any sequence of digits"
19777
19778 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
19779 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
19780
19781 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
19782 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
19783
19784 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
19785 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
19786
19787 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
19788 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
19789 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
19790
19791 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
19792 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
19793
19794 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
19795 @code{CR | CR-LF}
19796 @end table
19797
19798 @noindent
19799 Notes:
19800
19801 @itemize @bullet
19802 @item
19803 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
19804 output is described below.
19805
19806 @item
19807 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
19808 finishes.
19809
19810 @item
19811 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
19812 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
19813 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
19814 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
19815 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
19816 @end itemize
19817
19818 Pragmatics:
19819
19820 @itemize @bullet
19821 @item
19822 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
19823
19824 @item
19825 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
19826 @end itemize
19827
19828 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
19829 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
19830
19831 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
19832 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
19833 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
19834 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
19835 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
19836 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
19837
19838 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
19839 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
19840 @var{token}.
19841
19842 @table @code
19843 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
19844 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
19845
19846 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
19847 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
19848
19849 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
19850 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
19851
19852 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
19853 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
19854
19855 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
19856 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
19857
19858 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
19859 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
19860
19861 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
19862 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
19863
19864 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
19865 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
19866
19867 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
19868 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
19869
19870 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
19871 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
19872 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
19873
19874 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
19875 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
19876
19877 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
19878 @code{ @var{string} }
19879
19880 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
19881 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
19882
19883 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
19884 @code{@var{c-string}}
19885
19886 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
19887 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
19888
19889 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
19890 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
19891 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
19892
19893 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
19894 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
19895
19896 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
19897 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
19898
19899 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
19900 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
19901
19902 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
19903 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
19904
19905 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
19906 @code{CR | CR-LF}
19907
19908 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
19909 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
19910 @end table
19911
19912 @noindent
19913 Notes:
19914
19915 @itemize @bullet
19916 @item
19917 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
19918
19919 @item
19920 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
19921 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
19922 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
19923 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
19924 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
19925 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
19926 prior command.
19927
19928 @item
19929 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19930 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
19931 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
19932 prefixed by @samp{+}.
19933
19934 @item
19935 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19936 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
19937 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
19938 @samp{*}.
19939
19940 @item
19941 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19942 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
19943 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
19944 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
19945
19946 @item
19947 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19948 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
19949 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
19950 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
19951
19952 @item
19953 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19954 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
19955 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
19956
19957 @item
19958 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19959 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
19960 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
19961 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
19962
19963 @item
19964 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19965 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
19966 @var{values}.
19967
19968
19969 @end itemize
19970
19971 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
19972 details about the various output records.
19973
19974 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19975 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
19976 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
19977
19978 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
19979 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
19980
19981 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
19982 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
19983 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
19984 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
19985 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
19986 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
19987
19988 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
19989 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
19990 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
19991
19992 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19993 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
19994 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
19995 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
19996
19997 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
19998 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
19999
20000 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
20001 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
20002 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
20003 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
20004 might change.
20005
20006 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
20007 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
20008 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
20009 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
20010
20011 @itemize @bullet
20012 @item
20013 New MI commands may be added.
20014
20015 @item
20016 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
20017
20018 @item
20019 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
20020 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
20021
20022 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
20023 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
20024
20025 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
20026 @c resolve inconsistencies.
20027 @end itemize
20028
20029 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
20030 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
20031 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
20032 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
20033 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
20034
20035 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
20036 @c version?
20037
20038 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
20039 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
20040 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
20041 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
20042 @cindex mailing lists
20043
20044 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20045 @node GDB/MI Output Records
20046 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
20047
20048 @menu
20049 * GDB/MI Result Records::
20050 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
20051 * GDB/MI Async Records::
20052 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
20053 @end menu
20054
20055 @node GDB/MI Result Records
20056 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
20057
20058 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
20059 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
20060 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
20061 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
20062
20063 @table @code
20064 @findex ^done
20065 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
20066 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
20067 values.
20068
20069 @item "^running"
20070 @findex ^running
20071 @c Is this one correct? Should it be an out-of-band notification?
20072 The asynchronous operation was successfully started. The target is
20073 running.
20074
20075 @item "^connected"
20076 @findex ^connected
20077 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
20078
20079 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
20080 @findex ^error
20081 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
20082 error message.
20083
20084 @item "^exit"
20085 @findex ^exit
20086 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
20087
20088 @end table
20089
20090 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
20091 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
20092
20093 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
20094 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
20095 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
20096 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
20097 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
20098
20099 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
20100 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
20101 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
20102 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
20103 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
20104
20105 @table @code
20106 @item "~" @var{string-output}
20107 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
20108 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
20109
20110 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
20111 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
20112 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
20113 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
20114
20115 @item "&" @var{string-output}
20116 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
20117 internals.
20118 @end table
20119
20120 @node GDB/MI Async Records
20121 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
20122
20123 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
20124 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
20125 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
20126 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
20127 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
20128 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
20129
20130 The following is the list of possible async records:
20131
20132 @table @code
20133
20134 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
20135 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
20136 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
20137 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
20138 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
20139 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
20140 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
20141 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
20142 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
20143 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
20144
20145 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}"
20146 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
20147 following values:
20148
20149 @table @code
20150 @item breakpoint-hit
20151 A breakpoint was reached.
20152 @item watchpoint-trigger
20153 A watchpoint was triggered.
20154 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
20155 A read watchpoint was triggered.
20156 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
20157 An access watchpoint was triggered.
20158 @item function-finished
20159 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
20160 @item location-reached
20161 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
20162 @item watchpoint-scope
20163 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
20164 @item end-stepping-range
20165 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
20166 similar CLI command was accomplished.
20167 @item exited-signalled
20168 The inferior exited because of a signal.
20169 @item exited
20170 The inferior exited.
20171 @item exited-normally
20172 The inferior exited normally.
20173 @item signal-received
20174 A signal was received by the inferior.
20175 @end table
20176
20177 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
20178 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
20179 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
20180 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
20181 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
20182 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
20183 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
20184 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
20185 several threads in the list.
20186
20187 @item =thread-group-created,id="@var{id}"
20188 @itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
20189 A thread thread group either was attached to, or has exited/detached
20190 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
20191 thread group.
20192
20193 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
20194 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
20195 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
20196 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
20197 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
20198
20199 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
20200 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
20201 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
20202 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
20203 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
20204 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
20205 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
20206
20207 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
20208 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
20209 that thread.
20210
20211 @item =library-loaded,...
20212 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
20213 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
20214 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
20215 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
20216 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
20217 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
20218 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
20219 @var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
20220 library are loaded.
20221
20222 @item =library-unloaded,...
20223 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
20224 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
20225 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification
20226
20227 @end table
20228
20229 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
20230 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
20231
20232 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
20233 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
20234 fields:
20235
20236 @table @code
20237 @item level
20238 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
20239 zero. This field is always present.
20240
20241 @item func
20242 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
20243 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
20244
20245 @item addr
20246 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
20247
20248 @item file
20249 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
20250 address. This field may be absent.
20251
20252 @item line
20253 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
20254 may be absent.
20255
20256 @item from
20257 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
20258 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
20259
20260 @end table
20261
20262
20263 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20264 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
20265 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
20266 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
20267
20268 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
20269 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
20270 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
20271 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
20272
20273 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
20274 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
20275
20276 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
20277
20278 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
20279 information of the breakpoint.
20280
20281 @smallexample
20282 -> -break-insert main
20283 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
20284 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
20285 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
20286 <- (gdb)
20287 @end smallexample
20288
20289 @subheading Program Execution
20290
20291 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
20292 reason that execution stopped.
20293
20294 @smallexample
20295 -> -exec-run
20296 <- ^running
20297 <- (gdb)
20298 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
20299 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
20300 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
20301 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
20302 <- (gdb)
20303 -> -exec-continue
20304 <- ^running
20305 <- (gdb)
20306 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
20307 <- (gdb)
20308 @end smallexample
20309
20310 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
20311
20312 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
20313
20314 @smallexample
20315 -> (gdb)
20316 <- -gdb-exit
20317 <- ^exit
20318 @end smallexample
20319
20320 @subheading A Bad Command
20321
20322 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
20323
20324 @smallexample
20325 -> -rubbish
20326 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
20327 <- (gdb)
20328 @end smallexample
20329
20330
20331 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20332 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
20333 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
20334
20335 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
20336 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
20337
20338 @subheading Motivation
20339
20340 The motivation for this collection of commands.
20341
20342 @subheading Introduction
20343
20344 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
20345
20346 @subheading Commands
20347
20348 For each command in the block, the following is described:
20349
20350 @subsubheading Synopsis
20351
20352 @smallexample
20353 -command @var{args}@dots{}
20354 @end smallexample
20355
20356 @subsubheading Result
20357
20358 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20359
20360 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
20361
20362 @subsubheading Example
20363
20364 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
20365 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
20366
20367
20368 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20369 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
20370 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
20371
20372 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
20373 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
20374 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
20375 breakpoints.
20376
20377 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
20378 @findex -break-after
20379
20380 @subsubheading Synopsis
20381
20382 @smallexample
20383 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
20384 @end smallexample
20385
20386 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
20387 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
20388 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
20389 @samp{-break-list} command below.
20390
20391 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20392
20393 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
20394
20395 @subsubheading Example
20396
20397 @smallexample
20398 (gdb)
20399 -break-insert main
20400 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
20401 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
20402 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
20403 (gdb)
20404 -break-after 1 3
20405 ~
20406 ^done
20407 (gdb)
20408 -break-list
20409 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
20410 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20411 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20412 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20413 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20414 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20415 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20416 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
20417 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
20418 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
20419 (gdb)
20420 @end smallexample
20421
20422 @ignore
20423 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
20424 @findex -break-catch
20425
20426 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
20427 @findex -break-commands
20428 @end ignore
20429
20430
20431 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
20432 @findex -break-condition
20433
20434 @subsubheading Synopsis
20435
20436 @smallexample
20437 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
20438 @end smallexample
20439
20440 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
20441 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
20442 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
20443 command below).
20444
20445 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20446
20447 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
20448
20449 @subsubheading Example
20450
20451 @smallexample
20452 (gdb)
20453 -break-condition 1 1
20454 ^done
20455 (gdb)
20456 -break-list
20457 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
20458 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20459 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20460 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20461 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20462 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20463 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20464 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
20465 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
20466 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
20467 (gdb)
20468 @end smallexample
20469
20470 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
20471 @findex -break-delete
20472
20473 @subsubheading Synopsis
20474
20475 @smallexample
20476 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
20477 @end smallexample
20478
20479 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
20480 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
20481
20482 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20483
20484 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
20485
20486 @subsubheading Example
20487
20488 @smallexample
20489 (gdb)
20490 -break-delete 1
20491 ^done
20492 (gdb)
20493 -break-list
20494 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
20495 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20496 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20497 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20498 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20499 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20500 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20501 body=[]@}
20502 (gdb)
20503 @end smallexample
20504
20505 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
20506 @findex -break-disable
20507
20508 @subsubheading Synopsis
20509
20510 @smallexample
20511 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
20512 @end smallexample
20513
20514 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
20515 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
20516
20517 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20518
20519 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
20520
20521 @subsubheading Example
20522
20523 @smallexample
20524 (gdb)
20525 -break-disable 2
20526 ^done
20527 (gdb)
20528 -break-list
20529 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
20530 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20531 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20532 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20533 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20534 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20535 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20536 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
20537 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
20538 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
20539 (gdb)
20540 @end smallexample
20541
20542 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
20543 @findex -break-enable
20544
20545 @subsubheading Synopsis
20546
20547 @smallexample
20548 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
20549 @end smallexample
20550
20551 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
20552
20553 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20554
20555 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
20556
20557 @subsubheading Example
20558
20559 @smallexample
20560 (gdb)
20561 -break-enable 2
20562 ^done
20563 (gdb)
20564 -break-list
20565 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
20566 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20567 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20568 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20569 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20570 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20571 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20572 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
20573 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
20574 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
20575 (gdb)
20576 @end smallexample
20577
20578 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
20579 @findex -break-info
20580
20581 @subsubheading Synopsis
20582
20583 @smallexample
20584 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
20585 @end smallexample
20586
20587 @c REDUNDANT???
20588 Get information about a single breakpoint.
20589
20590 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20591
20592 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
20593
20594 @subsubheading Example
20595 N.A.
20596
20597 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
20598 @findex -break-insert
20599
20600 @subsubheading Synopsis
20601
20602 @smallexample
20603 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
20604 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
20605 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
20606 @end smallexample
20607
20608 @noindent
20609 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
20610
20611 @itemize @bullet
20612 @item function
20613 @c @item +offset
20614 @c @item -offset
20615 @c @item linenum
20616 @item filename:linenum
20617 @item filename:function
20618 @item *address
20619 @end itemize
20620
20621 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
20622
20623 @table @samp
20624 @item -t
20625 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
20626 @item -h
20627 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
20628 @item -c @var{condition}
20629 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
20630 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
20631 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
20632 @item -f
20633 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
20634 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
20635 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
20636 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
20637 cannot be parsed.
20638 @item -d
20639 Create a disabled breakpoint.
20640 @end table
20641
20642 @subsubheading Result
20643
20644 The result is in the form:
20645
20646 @smallexample
20647 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
20648 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
20649 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
20650 times="@var{times}"@}
20651 @end smallexample
20652
20653 @noindent
20654 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
20655 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
20656 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
20657 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
20658 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
20659 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
20660 which use the same output).
20661
20662 Note: this format is open to change.
20663 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
20664
20665 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20666
20667 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
20668 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
20669
20670 @subsubheading Example
20671
20672 @smallexample
20673 (gdb)
20674 -break-insert main
20675 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
20676 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
20677 (gdb)
20678 -break-insert -t foo
20679 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
20680 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
20681 (gdb)
20682 -break-list
20683 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
20684 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20685 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20686 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20687 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20688 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20689 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20690 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
20691 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
20692 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
20693 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
20694 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
20695 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
20696 (gdb)
20697 -break-insert -r foo.*
20698 ~int foo(int, int);
20699 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
20700 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
20701 (gdb)
20702 @end smallexample
20703
20704 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
20705 @findex -break-list
20706
20707 @subsubheading Synopsis
20708
20709 @smallexample
20710 -break-list
20711 @end smallexample
20712
20713 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
20714
20715 @table @samp
20716 @item Number
20717 number of the breakpoint
20718 @item Type
20719 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
20720 @item Disposition
20721 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
20722 or @samp{nokeep}
20723 @item Enabled
20724 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
20725 @item Address
20726 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
20727 @item What
20728 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
20729 name, line number
20730 @item Times
20731 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
20732 @end table
20733
20734 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
20735 @code{body} field is an empty list.
20736
20737 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20738
20739 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
20740
20741 @subsubheading Example
20742
20743 @smallexample
20744 (gdb)
20745 -break-list
20746 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
20747 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20748 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20749 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20750 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20751 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20752 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20753 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
20754 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
20755 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
20756 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
20757 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
20758 (gdb)
20759 @end smallexample
20760
20761 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
20762
20763 @smallexample
20764 (gdb)
20765 -break-list
20766 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
20767 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20768 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20769 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20770 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20771 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20772 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20773 body=[]@}
20774 (gdb)
20775 @end smallexample
20776
20777 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
20778 @findex -break-watch
20779
20780 @subsubheading Synopsis
20781
20782 @smallexample
20783 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
20784 @end smallexample
20785
20786 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
20787 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
20788 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
20789 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
20790 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
20791 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
20792 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
20793 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
20794
20795 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
20796 breakpoints inserted.
20797
20798 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20799
20800 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
20801 @samp{rwatch}.
20802
20803 @subsubheading Example
20804
20805 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
20806
20807 @smallexample
20808 (gdb)
20809 -break-watch x
20810 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
20811 (gdb)
20812 -exec-continue
20813 ^running
20814 (gdb)
20815 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
20816 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
20817 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
20818 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
20819 (gdb)
20820 @end smallexample
20821
20822 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
20823 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
20824 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
20825
20826 @smallexample
20827 (gdb)
20828 -break-watch C
20829 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
20830 (gdb)
20831 -exec-continue
20832 ^running
20833 (gdb)
20834 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
20835 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
20836 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
20837 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20838 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
20839 (gdb)
20840 -exec-continue
20841 ^running
20842 (gdb)
20843 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
20844 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
20845 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
20846 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20847 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
20848 (gdb)
20849 @end smallexample
20850
20851 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
20852 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
20853 deleted.
20854
20855 @smallexample
20856 (gdb)
20857 -break-watch C
20858 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
20859 (gdb)
20860 -break-list
20861 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
20862 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20863 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20864 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20865 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20866 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20867 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20868 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
20869 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
20870 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20871 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
20872 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
20873 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
20874 (gdb)
20875 -exec-continue
20876 ^running
20877 (gdb)
20878 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
20879 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
20880 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
20881 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20882 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
20883 (gdb)
20884 -break-list
20885 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
20886 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20887 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20888 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20889 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20890 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20891 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20892 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
20893 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
20894 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20895 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
20896 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
20897 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
20898 (gdb)
20899 -exec-continue
20900 ^running
20901 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
20902 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
20903 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
20904 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20905 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
20906 (gdb)
20907 -break-list
20908 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
20909 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
20910 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
20911 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
20912 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
20913 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
20914 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
20915 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
20916 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
20917 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20918 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
20919 times="1"@}]@}
20920 (gdb)
20921 @end smallexample
20922
20923 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20924 @node GDB/MI Program Context
20925 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
20926
20927 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
20928 @findex -exec-arguments
20929
20930
20931 @subsubheading Synopsis
20932
20933 @smallexample
20934 -exec-arguments @var{args}
20935 @end smallexample
20936
20937 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
20938 @samp{-exec-run}.
20939
20940 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20941
20942 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
20943
20944 @subsubheading Example
20945
20946 @smallexample
20947 (gdb)
20948 -exec-arguments -v word
20949 ^done
20950 (gdb)
20951 @end smallexample
20952
20953
20954 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
20955 @findex -exec-show-arguments
20956
20957 @subsubheading Synopsis
20958
20959 @smallexample
20960 -exec-show-arguments
20961 @end smallexample
20962
20963 Print the arguments of the program.
20964
20965 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20966
20967 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
20968
20969 @subsubheading Example
20970 N.A.
20971
20972
20973 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
20974 @findex -environment-cd
20975
20976 @subsubheading Synopsis
20977
20978 @smallexample
20979 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
20980 @end smallexample
20981
20982 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
20983
20984 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20985
20986 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
20987
20988 @subsubheading Example
20989
20990 @smallexample
20991 (gdb)
20992 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
20993 ^done
20994 (gdb)
20995 @end smallexample
20996
20997
20998 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
20999 @findex -environment-directory
21000
21001 @subsubheading Synopsis
21002
21003 @smallexample
21004 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
21005 @end smallexample
21006
21007 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
21008 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
21009 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
21010 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
21011 occurs as normal.
21012 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
21013 multiple directories in a single command
21014 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
21015 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
21016 If blanks are needed as
21017 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
21018 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
21019 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
21020 character must not be used
21021 in any directory name.
21022 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
21023
21024 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21025
21026 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
21027
21028 @subsubheading Example
21029
21030 @smallexample
21031 (gdb)
21032 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
21033 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
21034 (gdb)
21035 -environment-directory ""
21036 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
21037 (gdb)
21038 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
21039 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
21040 (gdb)
21041 -environment-directory -r
21042 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
21043 (gdb)
21044 @end smallexample
21045
21046
21047 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
21048 @findex -environment-path
21049
21050 @subsubheading Synopsis
21051
21052 @smallexample
21053 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
21054 @end smallexample
21055
21056 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
21057 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
21058 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
21059 supplied in addition to the
21060 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
21061 occurs as normal.
21062 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
21063 multiple directories in a single command
21064 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
21065 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
21066 If blanks are needed as
21067 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
21068 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
21069 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
21070 character must not be used
21071 in any directory name.
21072 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
21073
21074
21075 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21076
21077 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
21078
21079 @subsubheading Example
21080
21081 @smallexample
21082 (gdb)
21083 -environment-path
21084 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
21085 (gdb)
21086 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
21087 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
21088 (gdb)
21089 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
21090 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
21091 (gdb)
21092 @end smallexample
21093
21094
21095 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
21096 @findex -environment-pwd
21097
21098 @subsubheading Synopsis
21099
21100 @smallexample
21101 -environment-pwd
21102 @end smallexample
21103
21104 Show the current working directory.
21105
21106 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21107
21108 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
21109
21110 @subsubheading Example
21111
21112 @smallexample
21113 (gdb)
21114 -environment-pwd
21115 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
21116 (gdb)
21117 @end smallexample
21118
21119 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21120 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
21121 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
21122
21123
21124 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
21125 @findex -thread-info
21126
21127 @subsubheading Synopsis
21128
21129 @smallexample
21130 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
21131 @end smallexample
21132
21133 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
21134 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
21135 threads. When printing information about all threads,
21136 also reports the current thread.
21137
21138 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21139
21140 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
21141 about all threads.
21142
21143 @subsubheading Example
21144
21145 @smallexample
21146 -thread-info
21147 ^done,threads=[
21148 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
21149 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
21150 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
21151 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
21152 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}],
21153 current-thread-id="1"
21154 (gdb)
21155 @end smallexample
21156
21157 The @samp{state} field may have the following values:
21158
21159 @table @code
21160 @item stopped
21161 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
21162 threads.
21163
21164 @item running
21165 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
21166 threads.
21167
21168 @end table
21169
21170 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
21171 @findex -thread-list-ids
21172
21173 @subsubheading Synopsis
21174
21175 @smallexample
21176 -thread-list-ids
21177 @end smallexample
21178
21179 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
21180 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
21181
21182 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
21183 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
21184
21185 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21186
21187 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
21188
21189 @subsubheading Example
21190
21191 @smallexample
21192 (gdb)
21193 -thread-list-ids
21194 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
21195 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
21196 (gdb)
21197 @end smallexample
21198
21199
21200 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
21201 @findex -thread-select
21202
21203 @subsubheading Synopsis
21204
21205 @smallexample
21206 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
21207 @end smallexample
21208
21209 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
21210 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
21211
21212 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
21213 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
21214
21215 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21216
21217 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
21218
21219 @subsubheading Example
21220
21221 @smallexample
21222 (gdb)
21223 -exec-next
21224 ^running
21225 (gdb)
21226 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
21227 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
21228 (gdb)
21229 -thread-list-ids
21230 ^done,
21231 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
21232 number-of-threads="3"
21233 (gdb)
21234 -thread-select 3
21235 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
21236 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
21237 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
21238 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
21239 (gdb)
21240 @end smallexample
21241
21242 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21243 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
21244 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
21245
21246 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
21247 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
21248 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
21249 other cases.
21250
21251 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
21252 @findex -exec-continue
21253
21254 @subsubheading Synopsis
21255
21256 @smallexample
21257 -exec-continue [--all|--thread-group N]
21258 @end smallexample
21259
21260 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until a breakpoint is
21261 encountered, or until the inferior exits. In all-stop mode
21262 (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads,
21263 depending on the value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. In
21264 non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), if the @samp{--all} is not
21265 specified, only the thread specified with the @samp{--thread} option
21266 (or current thread, if no @samp{--thread} is provided) is resumed. If
21267 @samp{--all} is specified, all threads will be resumed. The
21268 @samp{--all} option is ignored in all-stop mode. If the
21269 @samp{--thread-group} options is specified, then all threads in that
21270 thread group are resumed.
21271
21272 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21273
21274 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
21275
21276 @subsubheading Example
21277
21278 @smallexample
21279 -exec-continue
21280 ^running
21281 (gdb)
21282 @@Hello world
21283 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
21284 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
21285 line="13"@}
21286 (gdb)
21287 @end smallexample
21288
21289
21290 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
21291 @findex -exec-finish
21292
21293 @subsubheading Synopsis
21294
21295 @smallexample
21296 -exec-finish
21297 @end smallexample
21298
21299 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
21300 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
21301
21302 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21303
21304 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
21305
21306 @subsubheading Example
21307
21308 Function returning @code{void}.
21309
21310 @smallexample
21311 -exec-finish
21312 ^running
21313 (gdb)
21314 @@hello from foo
21315 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
21316 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
21317 (gdb)
21318 @end smallexample
21319
21320 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
21321 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
21322 value itself.
21323
21324 @smallexample
21325 -exec-finish
21326 ^running
21327 (gdb)
21328 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
21329 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
21330 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21331 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
21332 (gdb)
21333 @end smallexample
21334
21335
21336 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
21337 @findex -exec-interrupt
21338
21339 @subsubheading Synopsis
21340
21341 @smallexample
21342 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
21343 @end smallexample
21344
21345 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
21346 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
21347 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
21348 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
21349 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
21350
21351 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
21352 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
21353 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
21354 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
21355
21356 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
21357 All threads will be interrupted if the @samp{--all} option is
21358 specified. If the @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, all
21359 threads in that group will be interrupted.
21360
21361 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21362
21363 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
21364
21365 @subsubheading Example
21366
21367 @smallexample
21368 (gdb)
21369 111-exec-continue
21370 111^running
21371
21372 (gdb)
21373 222-exec-interrupt
21374 222^done
21375 (gdb)
21376 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
21377 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
21378 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
21379 (gdb)
21380
21381 (gdb)
21382 -exec-interrupt
21383 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
21384 (gdb)
21385 @end smallexample
21386
21387
21388 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
21389 @findex -exec-next
21390
21391 @subsubheading Synopsis
21392
21393 @smallexample
21394 -exec-next
21395 @end smallexample
21396
21397 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
21398 of the next source line is reached.
21399
21400 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21401
21402 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
21403
21404 @subsubheading Example
21405
21406 @smallexample
21407 -exec-next
21408 ^running
21409 (gdb)
21410 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
21411 (gdb)
21412 @end smallexample
21413
21414
21415 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
21416 @findex -exec-next-instruction
21417
21418 @subsubheading Synopsis
21419
21420 @smallexample
21421 -exec-next-instruction
21422 @end smallexample
21423
21424 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
21425 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
21426 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
21427 printed as well.
21428
21429 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21430
21431 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
21432
21433 @subsubheading Example
21434
21435 @smallexample
21436 (gdb)
21437 -exec-next-instruction
21438 ^running
21439
21440 (gdb)
21441 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
21442 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
21443 (gdb)
21444 @end smallexample
21445
21446
21447 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
21448 @findex -exec-return
21449
21450 @subsubheading Synopsis
21451
21452 @smallexample
21453 -exec-return
21454 @end smallexample
21455
21456 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
21457 Displays the new current frame.
21458
21459 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21460
21461 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
21462
21463 @subsubheading Example
21464
21465 @smallexample
21466 (gdb)
21467 200-break-insert callee4
21468 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
21469 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
21470 (gdb)
21471 000-exec-run
21472 000^running
21473 (gdb)
21474 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
21475 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
21476 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21477 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
21478 (gdb)
21479 205-break-delete
21480 205^done
21481 (gdb)
21482 111-exec-return
21483 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
21484 args=[@{name="strarg",
21485 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
21486 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21487 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
21488 (gdb)
21489 @end smallexample
21490
21491
21492 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
21493 @findex -exec-run
21494
21495 @subsubheading Synopsis
21496
21497 @smallexample
21498 -exec-run
21499 @end smallexample
21500
21501 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
21502 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
21503 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
21504 the program has exited exceptionally.
21505
21506 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21507
21508 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
21509
21510 @subsubheading Examples
21511
21512 @smallexample
21513 (gdb)
21514 -break-insert main
21515 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
21516 (gdb)
21517 -exec-run
21518 ^running
21519 (gdb)
21520 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
21521 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
21522 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
21523 (gdb)
21524 @end smallexample
21525
21526 @noindent
21527 Program exited normally:
21528
21529 @smallexample
21530 (gdb)
21531 -exec-run
21532 ^running
21533 (gdb)
21534 x = 55
21535 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
21536 (gdb)
21537 @end smallexample
21538
21539 @noindent
21540 Program exited exceptionally:
21541
21542 @smallexample
21543 (gdb)
21544 -exec-run
21545 ^running
21546 (gdb)
21547 x = 55
21548 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
21549 (gdb)
21550 @end smallexample
21551
21552 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
21553 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
21554
21555 @smallexample
21556 (gdb)
21557 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
21558 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
21559 @end smallexample
21560
21561
21562 @c @subheading -exec-signal
21563
21564
21565 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
21566 @findex -exec-step
21567
21568 @subsubheading Synopsis
21569
21570 @smallexample
21571 -exec-step
21572 @end smallexample
21573
21574 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
21575 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
21576 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
21577 function.
21578
21579 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21580
21581 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
21582
21583 @subsubheading Example
21584
21585 Stepping into a function:
21586
21587 @smallexample
21588 -exec-step
21589 ^running
21590 (gdb)
21591 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
21592 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
21593 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
21594 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
21595 (gdb)
21596 @end smallexample
21597
21598 Regular stepping:
21599
21600 @smallexample
21601 -exec-step
21602 ^running
21603 (gdb)
21604 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
21605 (gdb)
21606 @end smallexample
21607
21608
21609 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
21610 @findex -exec-step-instruction
21611
21612 @subsubheading Synopsis
21613
21614 @smallexample
21615 -exec-step-instruction
21616 @end smallexample
21617
21618 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. The
21619 output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on whether
21620 we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the former
21621 case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed as
21622 well.
21623
21624 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21625
21626 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
21627
21628 @subsubheading Example
21629
21630 @smallexample
21631 (gdb)
21632 -exec-step-instruction
21633 ^running
21634
21635 (gdb)
21636 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
21637 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
21638 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
21639 (gdb)
21640 -exec-step-instruction
21641 ^running
21642
21643 (gdb)
21644 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
21645 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
21646 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
21647 (gdb)
21648 @end smallexample
21649
21650
21651 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
21652 @findex -exec-until
21653
21654 @subsubheading Synopsis
21655
21656 @smallexample
21657 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
21658 @end smallexample
21659
21660 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
21661 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
21662 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
21663 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
21664
21665 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21666
21667 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
21668
21669 @subsubheading Example
21670
21671 @smallexample
21672 (gdb)
21673 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
21674 ^running
21675 (gdb)
21676 x = 55
21677 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
21678 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
21679 (gdb)
21680 @end smallexample
21681
21682 @ignore
21683 @subheading -file-clear
21684 Is this going away????
21685 @end ignore
21686
21687 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21688 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
21689 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
21690
21691
21692 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
21693 @findex -stack-info-frame
21694
21695 @subsubheading Synopsis
21696
21697 @smallexample
21698 -stack-info-frame
21699 @end smallexample
21700
21701 Get info on the selected frame.
21702
21703 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21704
21705 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
21706 (without arguments).
21707
21708 @subsubheading Example
21709
21710 @smallexample
21711 (gdb)
21712 -stack-info-frame
21713 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
21714 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21715 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
21716 (gdb)
21717 @end smallexample
21718
21719 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
21720 @findex -stack-info-depth
21721
21722 @subsubheading Synopsis
21723
21724 @smallexample
21725 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
21726 @end smallexample
21727
21728 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
21729 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
21730
21731 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21732
21733 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
21734
21735 @subsubheading Example
21736
21737 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
21738
21739 @smallexample
21740 (gdb)
21741 -stack-info-depth
21742 ^done,depth="12"
21743 (gdb)
21744 -stack-info-depth 4
21745 ^done,depth="4"
21746 (gdb)
21747 -stack-info-depth 12
21748 ^done,depth="12"
21749 (gdb)
21750 -stack-info-depth 11
21751 ^done,depth="11"
21752 (gdb)
21753 -stack-info-depth 13
21754 ^done,depth="12"
21755 (gdb)
21756 @end smallexample
21757
21758 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
21759 @findex -stack-list-arguments
21760
21761 @subsubheading Synopsis
21762
21763 @smallexample
21764 -stack-list-arguments @var{show-values}
21765 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
21766 @end smallexample
21767
21768 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
21769 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
21770 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
21771 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
21772 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
21773 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
21774 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
21775 which case only existing frames will be returned.
21776
21777 The @var{show-values} argument must have a value of 0 or 1. A value of
21778 0 means that only the names of the arguments are listed, a value of 1
21779 means that both names and values of the arguments are printed.
21780
21781 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21782
21783 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
21784 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
21785 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
21786
21787 @subsubheading Example
21788
21789 @smallexample
21790 (gdb)
21791 -stack-list-frames
21792 ^done,
21793 stack=[
21794 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
21795 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21796 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
21797 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
21798 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21799 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
21800 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
21801 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21802 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
21803 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
21804 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21805 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
21806 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
21807 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
21808 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
21809 (gdb)
21810 -stack-list-arguments 0
21811 ^done,
21812 stack-args=[
21813 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
21814 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
21815 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
21816 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
21817 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
21818 (gdb)
21819 -stack-list-arguments 1
21820 ^done,
21821 stack-args=[
21822 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
21823 frame=@{level="1",
21824 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
21825 frame=@{level="2",args=[
21826 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
21827 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
21828 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
21829 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
21830 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
21831 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
21832 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
21833 (gdb)
21834 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
21835 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
21836 (gdb)
21837 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
21838 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
21839 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
21840 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
21841 (gdb)
21842 @end smallexample
21843
21844 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
21845
21846
21847 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
21848 @findex -stack-list-frames
21849
21850 @subsubheading Synopsis
21851
21852 @smallexample
21853 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
21854 @end smallexample
21855
21856 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
21857 following info:
21858
21859 @table @samp
21860 @item @var{level}
21861 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
21862 @item @var{addr}
21863 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
21864 @item @var{func}
21865 Function name.
21866 @item @var{file}
21867 File name of the source file where the function lives.
21868 @item @var{line}
21869 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
21870 @end table
21871
21872 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
21873 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
21874 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
21875 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
21876 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
21877 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
21878 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
21879
21880 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21881
21882 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
21883
21884 @subsubheading Example
21885
21886 Full stack backtrace:
21887
21888 @smallexample
21889 (gdb)
21890 -stack-list-frames
21891 ^done,stack=
21892 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
21893 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
21894 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21895 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21896 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21897 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21898 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21899 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21900 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21901 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21902 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21903 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21904 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21905 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21906 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21907 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21908 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21909 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21910 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21911 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21912 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21913 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21914 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
21915 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
21916 (gdb)
21917 @end smallexample
21918
21919 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
21920
21921 @smallexample
21922 (gdb)
21923 -stack-list-frames 3 5
21924 ^done,stack=
21925 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21926 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21927 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21928 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
21929 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21930 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
21931 (gdb)
21932 @end smallexample
21933
21934 Show a single frame:
21935
21936 @smallexample
21937 (gdb)
21938 -stack-list-frames 3 3
21939 ^done,stack=
21940 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
21941 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
21942 (gdb)
21943 @end smallexample
21944
21945
21946 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
21947 @findex -stack-list-locals
21948
21949 @subsubheading Synopsis
21950
21951 @smallexample
21952 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
21953 @end smallexample
21954
21955 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
21956 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
21957 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
21958 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
21959 type and value for simple data types and the name and type for arrays,
21960 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
21961 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
21962 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
21963 more detail.
21964
21965 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21966
21967 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
21968
21969 @subsubheading Example
21970
21971 @smallexample
21972 (gdb)
21973 -stack-list-locals 0
21974 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
21975 (gdb)
21976 -stack-list-locals --all-values
21977 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
21978 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
21979 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
21980 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
21981 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
21982 (gdb)
21983 @end smallexample
21984
21985
21986 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
21987 @findex -stack-select-frame
21988
21989 @subsubheading Synopsis
21990
21991 @smallexample
21992 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
21993 @end smallexample
21994
21995 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
21996 the stack.
21997
21998 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
21999 option to every command.
22000
22001 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22002
22003 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
22004 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
22005
22006 @subsubheading Example
22007
22008 @smallexample
22009 (gdb)
22010 -stack-select-frame 2
22011 ^done
22012 (gdb)
22013 @end smallexample
22014
22015 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22016 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
22017 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
22018
22019 @ignore
22020
22021 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
22022
22023 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
22024 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
22025 used by @code{Insight}.
22026
22027 The two main reasons for that are:
22028
22029 @enumerate 1
22030 @item
22031 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
22032
22033 @item
22034 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
22035 now).
22036 @end enumerate
22037
22038 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
22039 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
22040 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
22041 hints about their use.
22042
22043 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
22044 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
22045 least, the following operations:
22046
22047 @itemize @bullet
22048 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
22049 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
22050 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
22051 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
22052 @end itemize
22053
22054 @end ignore
22055
22056 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
22057
22058 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
22059
22060 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
22061 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
22062 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
22063 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
22064 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
22065 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
22066 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
22067 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
22068 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
22069 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
22070 object, or to change display format.
22071
22072 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
22073 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
22074 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
22075 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
22076 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
22077 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
22078 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
22079 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
22080 child will be created.
22081
22082 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
22083 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
22084 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
22085 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
22086 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
22087
22088 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
22089 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
22090 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
22091 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
22092 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
22093 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
22094 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
22095 variables that frontend has created.
22096
22097 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
22098 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
22099 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
22100 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
22101 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
22102 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
22103 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
22104 implicitly updated.
22105
22106 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
22107 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
22108 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
22109 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
22110 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
22111 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
22112 frame. Consider this example:
22113
22114 @smallexample
22115 void do_work(...)
22116 @{
22117 struct work_state state;
22118
22119 if (...)
22120 do_work(...);
22121 @}
22122 @end smallexample
22123
22124 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
22125 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
22126 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
22127 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
22128 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
22129
22130 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
22131 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
22132 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
22133 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
22134 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
22135 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
22136
22137 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
22138 access this functionality:
22139
22140 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
22141 @item @strong{Operation}
22142 @tab @strong{Description}
22143
22144 @item @code{-var-create}
22145 @tab create a variable object
22146 @item @code{-var-delete}
22147 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
22148 @item @code{-var-set-format}
22149 @tab set the display format of this variable
22150 @item @code{-var-show-format}
22151 @tab show the display format of this variable
22152 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
22153 @tab tells how many children this object has
22154 @item @code{-var-list-children}
22155 @tab return a list of the object's children
22156 @item @code{-var-info-type}
22157 @tab show the type of this variable object
22158 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
22159 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
22160 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
22161 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
22162 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
22163 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
22164 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
22165 @tab get the value of this variable
22166 @item @code{-var-assign}
22167 @tab set the value of this variable
22168 @item @code{-var-update}
22169 @tab update the variable and its children
22170 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
22171 @tab set frozeness attribute
22172 @end multitable
22173
22174 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
22175 how it can be used.
22176
22177 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
22178
22179 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
22180 @findex -var-create
22181
22182 @subsubheading Synopsis
22183
22184 @smallexample
22185 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
22186 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
22187 @end smallexample
22188
22189 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
22190 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
22191 register.
22192
22193 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
22194 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
22195 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
22196 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
22197 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
22198
22199 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
22200 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
22201 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
22202 object must be created.
22203
22204 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
22205 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
22206
22207 @itemize @bullet
22208 @item
22209 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
22210
22211 @item
22212 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
22213
22214 @item
22215 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
22216 @end itemize
22217
22218 @subsubheading Result
22219
22220 This operation returns the name, number of children and the type of the
22221 object created. Type is returned as a string as the ones generated by
22222 the @value{GDBN} CLI. If a fixed variable object is bound to a
22223 specific thread, the thread is is also printed:
22224
22225 @smallexample
22226 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}"
22227 @end smallexample
22228
22229
22230 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
22231 @findex -var-delete
22232
22233 @subsubheading Synopsis
22234
22235 @smallexample
22236 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
22237 @end smallexample
22238
22239 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
22240 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
22241
22242 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
22243
22244
22245 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
22246 @findex -var-set-format
22247
22248 @subsubheading Synopsis
22249
22250 @smallexample
22251 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
22252 @end smallexample
22253
22254 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
22255 @var{format-spec}.
22256
22257 @anchor{-var-set-format}
22258 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
22259
22260 @smallexample
22261 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
22262 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
22263 @end smallexample
22264
22265 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
22266 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
22267 for pointers, etc.).
22268
22269 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
22270 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
22271
22272 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
22273 @findex -var-show-format
22274
22275 @subsubheading Synopsis
22276
22277 @smallexample
22278 -var-show-format @var{name}
22279 @end smallexample
22280
22281 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
22282
22283 @smallexample
22284 @var{format} @expansion{}
22285 @var{format-spec}
22286 @end smallexample
22287
22288
22289 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
22290 @findex -var-info-num-children
22291
22292 @subsubheading Synopsis
22293
22294 @smallexample
22295 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
22296 @end smallexample
22297
22298 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
22299
22300 @smallexample
22301 numchild=@var{n}
22302 @end smallexample
22303
22304
22305 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
22306 @findex -var-list-children
22307
22308 @subsubheading Synopsis
22309
22310 @smallexample
22311 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name}
22312 @end smallexample
22313 @anchor{-var-list-children}
22314
22315 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
22316 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
22317 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value for of 0 or
22318 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
22319 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
22320 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
22321 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
22322 and unions.
22323
22324 @subsubheading Example
22325
22326 @smallexample
22327 (gdb)
22328 -var-list-children n
22329 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[@{name=@var{name},
22330 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
22331 (gdb)
22332 -var-list-children --all-values n
22333 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[@{name=@var{name},
22334 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
22335 @end smallexample
22336
22337
22338 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
22339 @findex -var-info-type
22340
22341 @subsubheading Synopsis
22342
22343 @smallexample
22344 -var-info-type @var{name}
22345 @end smallexample
22346
22347 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
22348 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
22349 @value{GDBN} CLI:
22350
22351 @smallexample
22352 type=@var{typename}
22353 @end smallexample
22354
22355
22356 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
22357 @findex -var-info-expression
22358
22359 @subsubheading Synopsis
22360
22361 @smallexample
22362 -var-info-expression @var{name}
22363 @end smallexample
22364
22365 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
22366 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
22367 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
22368
22369 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
22370 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
22371
22372 @smallexample
22373 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
22374 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
22375 @end smallexample
22376
22377 @noindent
22378 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
22379
22380 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
22381 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
22382 is of limited use.
22383
22384 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
22385 @findex -var-info-path-expression
22386
22387 @subsubheading Synopsis
22388
22389 @smallexample
22390 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
22391 @end smallexample
22392
22393 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
22394 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
22395 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
22396 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
22397 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
22398 watchpoint from a variable object.
22399
22400 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
22401 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
22402 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
22403 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
22404 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
22405 @smallexample
22406 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
22407 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
22408 @end smallexample
22409
22410 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
22411 @findex -var-show-attributes
22412
22413 @subsubheading Synopsis
22414
22415 @smallexample
22416 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
22417 @end smallexample
22418
22419 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
22420
22421 @smallexample
22422 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
22423 @end smallexample
22424
22425 @noindent
22426 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
22427
22428 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
22429 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
22430
22431 @subsubheading Synopsis
22432
22433 @smallexample
22434 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
22435 @end smallexample
22436
22437 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
22438 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
22439 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
22440 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
22441 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
22442 the current display format will be used. The current display format
22443 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
22444
22445 @smallexample
22446 value=@var{value}
22447 @end smallexample
22448
22449 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
22450 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
22451
22452 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
22453 @findex -var-assign
22454
22455 @subsubheading Synopsis
22456
22457 @smallexample
22458 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
22459 @end smallexample
22460
22461 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
22462 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
22463 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
22464 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
22465
22466 @subsubheading Example
22467
22468 @smallexample
22469 (gdb)
22470 -var-assign var1 3
22471 ^done,value="3"
22472 (gdb)
22473 -var-update *
22474 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
22475 (gdb)
22476 @end smallexample
22477
22478 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
22479 @findex -var-update
22480
22481 @subsubheading Synopsis
22482
22483 @smallexample
22484 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
22485 @end smallexample
22486
22487 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
22488 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
22489 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
22490 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
22491 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
22492 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
22493 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
22494 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
22495 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
22496 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
22497 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
22498 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
22499 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
22500
22501 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
22502 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
22503 diagnostic.
22504
22505 @subsubheading Example
22506
22507 @smallexample
22508 (gdb)
22509 -var-assign var1 3
22510 ^done,value="3"
22511 (gdb)
22512 -var-update --all-values var1
22513 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
22514 type_changed="false"@}]
22515 (gdb)
22516 @end smallexample
22517
22518 @anchor{-var-update}
22519 The field in_scope may take three values:
22520
22521 @table @code
22522 @item "true"
22523 The variable object's current value is valid.
22524
22525 @item "false"
22526 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
22527 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
22528 scope.
22529
22530 @item "invalid"
22531 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
22532 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
22533 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
22534 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
22535 objects.
22536 @end table
22537
22538 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
22539 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
22540
22541 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
22542 @findex -var-set-frozen
22543 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
22544
22545 @subsubheading Synopsis
22546
22547 @smallexample
22548 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
22549 @end smallexample
22550
22551 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
22552 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
22553 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
22554 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
22555 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
22556 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
22557 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
22558 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
22559 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
22560 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
22561 @code{-var-update} does.
22562
22563 @subsubheading Example
22564
22565 @smallexample
22566 (gdb)
22567 -var-set-frozen V 1
22568 ^done
22569 (gdb)
22570 @end smallexample
22571
22572
22573 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22574 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
22575 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
22576
22577 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
22578 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
22579 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
22580 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
22581
22582 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
22583 @c @subheading -data-assign
22584 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
22585 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
22586 @c set variable
22587 @c @subsubheading Example
22588 @c N.A.
22589
22590 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
22591 @findex -data-disassemble
22592
22593 @subsubheading Synopsis
22594
22595 @smallexample
22596 -data-disassemble
22597 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
22598 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
22599 -- @var{mode}
22600 @end smallexample
22601
22602 @noindent
22603 Where:
22604
22605 @table @samp
22606 @item @var{start-addr}
22607 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
22608 @item @var{end-addr}
22609 is the end address
22610 @item @var{filename}
22611 is the name of the file to disassemble
22612 @item @var{linenum}
22613 is the line number to disassemble around
22614 @item @var{lines}
22615 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
22616 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
22617 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
22618 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
22619 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
22620 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
22621 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
22622 are displayed.
22623 @item @var{mode}
22624 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
22625 disassembly).
22626 @end table
22627
22628 @subsubheading Result
22629
22630 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
22631
22632 @itemize @bullet
22633 @item Address
22634 @item Func-name
22635 @item Offset
22636 @item Instruction
22637 @end itemize
22638
22639 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
22640 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
22641
22642 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22643
22644 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
22645
22646 @subsubheading Example
22647
22648 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
22649
22650 @smallexample
22651 (gdb)
22652 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
22653 ^done,
22654 asm_insns=[
22655 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
22656 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
22657 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
22658 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
22659 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
22660 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
22661 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
22662 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
22663 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
22664 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
22665 (gdb)
22666 @end smallexample
22667
22668 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
22669 @code{main}.
22670
22671 @smallexample
22672 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
22673 ^done,asm_insns=[
22674 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
22675 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
22676 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
22677 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
22678 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
22679 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
22680 [@dots{}]
22681 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
22682 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
22683 (gdb)
22684 @end smallexample
22685
22686 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
22687
22688 @smallexample
22689 (gdb)
22690 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
22691 ^done,asm_insns=[
22692 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
22693 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
22694 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
22695 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
22696 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
22697 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
22698 (gdb)
22699 @end smallexample
22700
22701 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
22702
22703 @smallexample
22704 (gdb)
22705 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
22706 ^done,asm_insns=[
22707 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
22708 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
22709 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
22710 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
22711 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
22712 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
22713 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
22714 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
22715 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
22716 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
22717 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
22718 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
22719 (gdb)
22720 @end smallexample
22721
22722
22723 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
22724 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
22725
22726 @subsubheading Synopsis
22727
22728 @smallexample
22729 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
22730 @end smallexample
22731
22732 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
22733 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
22734 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
22735
22736 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22737
22738 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
22739 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
22740 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
22741
22742 @subsubheading Example
22743
22744 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
22745 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
22746 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
22747 output.
22748
22749 @smallexample
22750 211-data-evaluate-expression A
22751 211^done,value="1"
22752 (gdb)
22753 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
22754 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
22755 (gdb)
22756 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
22757 411^done,value="4"
22758 (gdb)
22759 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
22760 511^done,value="4"
22761 (gdb)
22762 @end smallexample
22763
22764
22765 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
22766 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
22767
22768 @subsubheading Synopsis
22769
22770 @smallexample
22771 -data-list-changed-registers
22772 @end smallexample
22773
22774 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
22775
22776 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22777
22778 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
22779 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
22780
22781 @subsubheading Example
22782
22783 On a PPC MBX board:
22784
22785 @smallexample
22786 (gdb)
22787 -exec-continue
22788 ^running
22789
22790 (gdb)
22791 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
22792 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
22793 line="5"@}
22794 (gdb)
22795 -data-list-changed-registers
22796 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
22797 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
22798 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
22799 (gdb)
22800 @end smallexample
22801
22802
22803 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
22804 @findex -data-list-register-names
22805
22806 @subsubheading Synopsis
22807
22808 @smallexample
22809 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
22810 @end smallexample
22811
22812 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
22813 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
22814 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
22815 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
22816 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
22817 include empty register names.
22818
22819 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22820
22821 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
22822 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
22823 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
22824
22825 @subsubheading Example
22826
22827 For the PPC MBX board:
22828 @smallexample
22829 (gdb)
22830 -data-list-register-names
22831 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
22832 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
22833 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
22834 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
22835 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
22836 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
22837 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
22838 (gdb)
22839 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
22840 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
22841 (gdb)
22842 @end smallexample
22843
22844 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
22845 @findex -data-list-register-values
22846
22847 @subsubheading Synopsis
22848
22849 @smallexample
22850 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
22851 @end smallexample
22852
22853 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
22854 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
22855 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
22856 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
22857
22858 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
22859
22860 @table @code
22861 @item x
22862 Hexadecimal
22863 @item o
22864 Octal
22865 @item t
22866 Binary
22867 @item d
22868 Decimal
22869 @item r
22870 Raw
22871 @item N
22872 Natural
22873 @end table
22874
22875 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22876
22877 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
22878 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
22879
22880 @subsubheading Example
22881
22882 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
22883 don't appear in the actual output):
22884
22885 @smallexample
22886 (gdb)
22887 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
22888 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
22889 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
22890 (gdb)
22891 -data-list-register-values x
22892 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
22893 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
22894 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
22895 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
22896 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
22897 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
22898 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
22899 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
22900 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
22901 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
22902 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
22903 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
22904 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
22905 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
22906 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
22907 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
22908 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
22909 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
22910 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
22911 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
22912 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
22913 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
22914 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
22915 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
22916 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
22917 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
22918 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
22919 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
22920 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
22921 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
22922 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
22923 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
22924 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
22925 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
22926 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
22927 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
22928 (gdb)
22929 @end smallexample
22930
22931
22932 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
22933 @findex -data-read-memory
22934
22935 @subsubheading Synopsis
22936
22937 @smallexample
22938 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
22939 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
22940 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
22941 @end smallexample
22942
22943 @noindent
22944 where:
22945
22946 @table @samp
22947 @item @var{address}
22948 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
22949 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
22950 quoted using the C convention.
22951
22952 @item @var{word-format}
22953 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
22954 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
22955 ,Output Formats}).
22956
22957 @item @var{word-size}
22958 The size of each memory word in bytes.
22959
22960 @item @var{nr-rows}
22961 The number of rows in the output table.
22962
22963 @item @var{nr-cols}
22964 The number of columns in the output table.
22965
22966 @item @var{aschar}
22967 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
22968 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
22969 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
22970 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
22971
22972 @item @var{byte-offset}
22973 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
22974 @end table
22975
22976 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
22977 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
22978 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
22979 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
22980 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
22981 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
22982 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
22983 @samp{addr}.
22984
22985 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
22986 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
22987 @samp{prev-page}.
22988
22989 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22990
22991 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
22992 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
22993
22994 @subsubheading Example
22995
22996 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
22997 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
22998 word. Display each word in hex.
22999
23000 @smallexample
23001 (gdb)
23002 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
23003 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
23004 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
23005 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
23006 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
23007 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
23008 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
23009 (gdb)
23010 @end smallexample
23011
23012 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
23013 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
23014
23015 @smallexample
23016 (gdb)
23017 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
23018 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
23019 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
23020 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
23021 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
23022 (gdb)
23023 @end smallexample
23024
23025 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
23026 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
23027 used as the non-printable character.
23028
23029 @smallexample
23030 (gdb)
23031 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
23032 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
23033 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
23034 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
23035 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
23036 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
23037 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
23038 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
23039 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
23040 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
23041 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
23042 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
23043 (gdb)
23044 @end smallexample
23045
23046 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23047 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
23048 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
23049
23050 The tracepoint commands are not yet implemented.
23051
23052 @c @subheading -trace-actions
23053
23054 @c @subheading -trace-delete
23055
23056 @c @subheading -trace-disable
23057
23058 @c @subheading -trace-dump
23059
23060 @c @subheading -trace-enable
23061
23062 @c @subheading -trace-exists
23063
23064 @c @subheading -trace-find
23065
23066 @c @subheading -trace-frame-number
23067
23068 @c @subheading -trace-info
23069
23070 @c @subheading -trace-insert
23071
23072 @c @subheading -trace-list
23073
23074 @c @subheading -trace-pass-count
23075
23076 @c @subheading -trace-save
23077
23078 @c @subheading -trace-start
23079
23080 @c @subheading -trace-stop
23081
23082
23083 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23084 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
23085 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
23086
23087
23088 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
23089 @findex -symbol-info-address
23090
23091 @subsubheading Synopsis
23092
23093 @smallexample
23094 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
23095 @end smallexample
23096
23097 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
23098
23099 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23100
23101 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
23102
23103 @subsubheading Example
23104 N.A.
23105
23106
23107 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
23108 @findex -symbol-info-file
23109
23110 @subsubheading Synopsis
23111
23112 @smallexample
23113 -symbol-info-file
23114 @end smallexample
23115
23116 Show the file for the symbol.
23117
23118 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23119
23120 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
23121 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
23122
23123 @subsubheading Example
23124 N.A.
23125
23126
23127 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
23128 @findex -symbol-info-function
23129
23130 @subsubheading Synopsis
23131
23132 @smallexample
23133 -symbol-info-function
23134 @end smallexample
23135
23136 Show which function the symbol lives in.
23137
23138 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23139
23140 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
23141
23142 @subsubheading Example
23143 N.A.
23144
23145
23146 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
23147 @findex -symbol-info-line
23148
23149 @subsubheading Synopsis
23150
23151 @smallexample
23152 -symbol-info-line
23153 @end smallexample
23154
23155 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
23156
23157 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23158
23159 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
23160 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
23161
23162 @subsubheading Example
23163 N.A.
23164
23165
23166 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
23167 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
23168
23169 @subsubheading Synopsis
23170
23171 @smallexample
23172 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
23173 @end smallexample
23174
23175 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
23176
23177 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23178
23179 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
23180
23181 @subsubheading Example
23182 N.A.
23183
23184
23185 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
23186 @findex -symbol-list-functions
23187
23188 @subsubheading Synopsis
23189
23190 @smallexample
23191 -symbol-list-functions
23192 @end smallexample
23193
23194 List the functions in the executable.
23195
23196 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23197
23198 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
23199 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
23200
23201 @subsubheading Example
23202 N.A.
23203
23204
23205 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
23206 @findex -symbol-list-lines
23207
23208 @subsubheading Synopsis
23209
23210 @smallexample
23211 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
23212 @end smallexample
23213
23214 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
23215 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
23216 ascending PC order.
23217
23218 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23219
23220 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
23221
23222 @subsubheading Example
23223 @smallexample
23224 (gdb)
23225 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
23226 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
23227 (gdb)
23228 @end smallexample
23229
23230
23231 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
23232 @findex -symbol-list-types
23233
23234 @subsubheading Synopsis
23235
23236 @smallexample
23237 -symbol-list-types
23238 @end smallexample
23239
23240 List all the type names.
23241
23242 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23243
23244 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
23245 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
23246
23247 @subsubheading Example
23248 N.A.
23249
23250
23251 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
23252 @findex -symbol-list-variables
23253
23254 @subsubheading Synopsis
23255
23256 @smallexample
23257 -symbol-list-variables
23258 @end smallexample
23259
23260 List all the global and static variable names.
23261
23262 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23263
23264 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
23265
23266 @subsubheading Example
23267 N.A.
23268
23269
23270 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
23271 @findex -symbol-locate
23272
23273 @subsubheading Synopsis
23274
23275 @smallexample
23276 -symbol-locate
23277 @end smallexample
23278
23279 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23280
23281 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
23282
23283 @subsubheading Example
23284 N.A.
23285
23286
23287 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
23288 @findex -symbol-type
23289
23290 @subsubheading Synopsis
23291
23292 @smallexample
23293 -symbol-type @var{variable}
23294 @end smallexample
23295
23296 Show type of @var{variable}.
23297
23298 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23299
23300 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
23301 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
23302
23303 @subsubheading Example
23304 N.A.
23305
23306
23307 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23308 @node GDB/MI File Commands
23309 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
23310
23311 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
23312 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
23313
23314 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
23315 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
23316
23317 @subsubheading Synopsis
23318
23319 @smallexample
23320 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
23321 @end smallexample
23322
23323 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
23324 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
23325 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
23326 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
23327 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
23328 notification.
23329
23330 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23331
23332 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
23333
23334 @subsubheading Example
23335
23336 @smallexample
23337 (gdb)
23338 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
23339 ^done
23340 (gdb)
23341 @end smallexample
23342
23343
23344 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
23345 @findex -file-exec-file
23346
23347 @subsubheading Synopsis
23348
23349 @smallexample
23350 -file-exec-file @var{file}
23351 @end smallexample
23352
23353 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
23354 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
23355 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
23356 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
23357 notification.
23358
23359 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23360
23361 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
23362
23363 @subsubheading Example
23364
23365 @smallexample
23366 (gdb)
23367 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
23368 ^done
23369 (gdb)
23370 @end smallexample
23371
23372
23373 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
23374 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
23375
23376 @subsubheading Synopsis
23377
23378 @smallexample
23379 -file-list-exec-sections
23380 @end smallexample
23381
23382 List the sections of the current executable file.
23383
23384 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23385
23386 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
23387 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
23388 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
23389
23390 @subsubheading Example
23391 N.A.
23392
23393
23394 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
23395 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
23396
23397 @subsubheading Synopsis
23398
23399 @smallexample
23400 -file-list-exec-source-file
23401 @end smallexample
23402
23403 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
23404 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
23405 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
23406 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
23407
23408 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23409
23410 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
23411
23412 @subsubheading Example
23413
23414 @smallexample
23415 (gdb)
23416 123-file-list-exec-source-file
23417 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
23418 (gdb)
23419 @end smallexample
23420
23421
23422 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
23423 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
23424
23425 @subsubheading Synopsis
23426
23427 @smallexample
23428 -file-list-exec-source-files
23429 @end smallexample
23430
23431 List the source files for the current executable.
23432
23433 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
23434 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
23435
23436 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23437
23438 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
23439 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
23440
23441 @subsubheading Example
23442 @smallexample
23443 (gdb)
23444 -file-list-exec-source-files
23445 ^done,files=[
23446 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
23447 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
23448 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
23449 (gdb)
23450 @end smallexample
23451
23452 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
23453 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
23454
23455 @subsubheading Synopsis
23456
23457 @smallexample
23458 -file-list-shared-libraries
23459 @end smallexample
23460
23461 List the shared libraries in the program.
23462
23463 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23464
23465 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
23466
23467 @subsubheading Example
23468 N.A.
23469
23470
23471 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
23472 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
23473
23474 @subsubheading Synopsis
23475
23476 @smallexample
23477 -file-list-symbol-files
23478 @end smallexample
23479
23480 List symbol files.
23481
23482 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23483
23484 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
23485
23486 @subsubheading Example
23487 N.A.
23488
23489
23490 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
23491 @findex -file-symbol-file
23492
23493 @subsubheading Synopsis
23494
23495 @smallexample
23496 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
23497 @end smallexample
23498
23499 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
23500 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
23501 produced, except for a completion notification.
23502
23503 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23504
23505 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
23506
23507 @subsubheading Example
23508
23509 @smallexample
23510 (gdb)
23511 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
23512 ^done
23513 (gdb)
23514 @end smallexample
23515
23516 @ignore
23517 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23518 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
23519 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
23520
23521 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
23522
23523 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
23524
23525 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
23526
23527 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
23528
23529 @c @subheading -overlay-map
23530
23531 @c @subheading -overlay-off
23532
23533 @c @subheading -overlay-on
23534
23535 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
23536
23537 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23538 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
23539 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
23540
23541 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
23542
23543 @c @subheading -signal-handle
23544
23545 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
23546
23547 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
23548 @end ignore
23549
23550
23551 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23552 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
23553 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
23554
23555
23556 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
23557 @findex -target-attach
23558
23559 @subsubheading Synopsis
23560
23561 @smallexample
23562 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
23563 @end smallexample
23564
23565 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
23566 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
23567 group, the id previously returned by
23568 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
23569
23570 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23571
23572 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
23573
23574 @subsubheading Example
23575 @smallexample
23576 (gdb)
23577 -target-attach 34
23578 =thread-created,id="1"
23579 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
23580 ^done
23581 (gdb)
23582 @end smallexample
23583
23584 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
23585 @findex -target-compare-sections
23586
23587 @subsubheading Synopsis
23588
23589 @smallexample
23590 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
23591 @end smallexample
23592
23593 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
23594 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
23595
23596 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23597
23598 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
23599
23600 @subsubheading Example
23601 N.A.
23602
23603
23604 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
23605 @findex -target-detach
23606
23607 @subsubheading Synopsis
23608
23609 @smallexample
23610 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
23611 @end smallexample
23612
23613 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
23614 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
23615 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
23616
23617 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23618
23619 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
23620
23621 @subsubheading Example
23622
23623 @smallexample
23624 (gdb)
23625 -target-detach
23626 ^done
23627 (gdb)
23628 @end smallexample
23629
23630
23631 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
23632 @findex -target-disconnect
23633
23634 @subsubheading Synopsis
23635
23636 @smallexample
23637 -target-disconnect
23638 @end smallexample
23639
23640 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
23641 generally not resumed.
23642
23643 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23644
23645 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
23646
23647 @subsubheading Example
23648
23649 @smallexample
23650 (gdb)
23651 -target-disconnect
23652 ^done
23653 (gdb)
23654 @end smallexample
23655
23656
23657 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
23658 @findex -target-download
23659
23660 @subsubheading Synopsis
23661
23662 @smallexample
23663 -target-download
23664 @end smallexample
23665
23666 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
23667 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
23668
23669 @table @samp
23670 @item section
23671 The name of the section.
23672 @item section-sent
23673 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
23674 @item section-size
23675 The size of the section.
23676 @item total-sent
23677 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
23678 @item total-size
23679 The size of the overall executable to download.
23680 @end table
23681
23682 @noindent
23683 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
23684 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
23685
23686 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
23687 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
23688
23689 @table @samp
23690 @item section
23691 The name of the section.
23692 @item section-size
23693 The size of the section.
23694 @item total-size
23695 The size of the overall executable to download.
23696 @end table
23697
23698 @noindent
23699 At the end, a summary is printed.
23700
23701 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23702
23703 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
23704
23705 @subsubheading Example
23706
23707 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
23708 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
23709
23710 @smallexample
23711 (gdb)
23712 -target-download
23713 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
23714 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
23715 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
23716 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
23717 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
23718 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
23719 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
23720 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
23721 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
23722 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
23723 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
23724 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
23725 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
23726 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
23727 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
23728 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
23729 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
23730 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
23731 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
23732 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
23733 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
23734 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
23735 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
23736 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
23737 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
23738 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
23739 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
23740 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
23741 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
23742 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
23743 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
23744 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
23745 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
23746 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
23747 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
23748 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
23749 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
23750 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
23751 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
23752 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
23753 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
23754 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
23755 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
23756 write-rate="429"
23757 (gdb)
23758 @end smallexample
23759
23760
23761 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
23762 @findex -target-exec-status
23763
23764 @subsubheading Synopsis
23765
23766 @smallexample
23767 -target-exec-status
23768 @end smallexample
23769
23770 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
23771 not, for instance).
23772
23773 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23774
23775 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
23776
23777 @subsubheading Example
23778 N.A.
23779
23780
23781 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
23782 @findex -target-list-available-targets
23783
23784 @subsubheading Synopsis
23785
23786 @smallexample
23787 -target-list-available-targets
23788 @end smallexample
23789
23790 List the possible targets to connect to.
23791
23792 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23793
23794 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
23795
23796 @subsubheading Example
23797 N.A.
23798
23799
23800 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
23801 @findex -target-list-current-targets
23802
23803 @subsubheading Synopsis
23804
23805 @smallexample
23806 -target-list-current-targets
23807 @end smallexample
23808
23809 Describe the current target.
23810
23811 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23812
23813 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
23814 other things).
23815
23816 @subsubheading Example
23817 N.A.
23818
23819
23820 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
23821 @findex -target-list-parameters
23822
23823 @subsubheading Synopsis
23824
23825 @smallexample
23826 -target-list-parameters
23827 @end smallexample
23828
23829 @c ????
23830
23831 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23832
23833 No equivalent.
23834
23835 @subsubheading Example
23836 N.A.
23837
23838
23839 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
23840 @findex -target-select
23841
23842 @subsubheading Synopsis
23843
23844 @smallexample
23845 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
23846 @end smallexample
23847
23848 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
23849
23850 @table @samp
23851 @item @var{type}
23852 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
23853 @item @var{parameters}
23854 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
23855 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
23856 @end table
23857
23858 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
23859 which the target program is, in the following form:
23860
23861 @smallexample
23862 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
23863 args=[@var{arg list}]
23864 @end smallexample
23865
23866 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23867
23868 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
23869
23870 @subsubheading Example
23871
23872 @smallexample
23873 (gdb)
23874 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
23875 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
23876 (gdb)
23877 @end smallexample
23878
23879 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23880 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
23881 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
23882
23883
23884 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
23885 @findex -target-file-put
23886
23887 @subsubheading Synopsis
23888
23889 @smallexample
23890 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
23891 @end smallexample
23892
23893 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
23894 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
23895
23896 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23897
23898 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
23899
23900 @subsubheading Example
23901
23902 @smallexample
23903 (gdb)
23904 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
23905 ^done
23906 (gdb)
23907 @end smallexample
23908
23909
23910 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
23911 @findex -target-file-get
23912
23913 @subsubheading Synopsis
23914
23915 @smallexample
23916 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
23917 @end smallexample
23918
23919 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
23920 on the host system.
23921
23922 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23923
23924 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
23925
23926 @subsubheading Example
23927
23928 @smallexample
23929 (gdb)
23930 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
23931 ^done
23932 (gdb)
23933 @end smallexample
23934
23935
23936 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
23937 @findex -target-file-delete
23938
23939 @subsubheading Synopsis
23940
23941 @smallexample
23942 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
23943 @end smallexample
23944
23945 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
23946
23947 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23948
23949 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
23950
23951 @subsubheading Example
23952
23953 @smallexample
23954 (gdb)
23955 -target-file-delete remotefile
23956 ^done
23957 (gdb)
23958 @end smallexample
23959
23960
23961 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23962 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
23963 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
23964
23965 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
23966
23967 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
23968 @findex -gdb-exit
23969
23970 @subsubheading Synopsis
23971
23972 @smallexample
23973 -gdb-exit
23974 @end smallexample
23975
23976 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
23977
23978 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23979
23980 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
23981
23982 @subsubheading Example
23983
23984 @smallexample
23985 (gdb)
23986 -gdb-exit
23987 ^exit
23988 @end smallexample
23989
23990
23991 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
23992 @findex -exec-abort
23993
23994 @subsubheading Synopsis
23995
23996 @smallexample
23997 -exec-abort
23998 @end smallexample
23999
24000 Kill the inferior running program.
24001
24002 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24003
24004 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
24005
24006 @subsubheading Example
24007 N.A.
24008
24009
24010 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
24011 @findex -gdb-set
24012
24013 @subsubheading Synopsis
24014
24015 @smallexample
24016 -gdb-set
24017 @end smallexample
24018
24019 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
24020 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
24021
24022 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24023
24024 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
24025
24026 @subsubheading Example
24027
24028 @smallexample
24029 (gdb)
24030 -gdb-set $foo=3
24031 ^done
24032 (gdb)
24033 @end smallexample
24034
24035
24036 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
24037 @findex -gdb-show
24038
24039 @subsubheading Synopsis
24040
24041 @smallexample
24042 -gdb-show
24043 @end smallexample
24044
24045 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
24046
24047 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24048
24049 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
24050
24051 @subsubheading Example
24052
24053 @smallexample
24054 (gdb)
24055 -gdb-show annotate
24056 ^done,value="0"
24057 (gdb)
24058 @end smallexample
24059
24060 @c @subheading -gdb-source
24061
24062
24063 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
24064 @findex -gdb-version
24065
24066 @subsubheading Synopsis
24067
24068 @smallexample
24069 -gdb-version
24070 @end smallexample
24071
24072 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
24073
24074 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24075
24076 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
24077 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
24078
24079 @subsubheading Example
24080
24081 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
24082 @c box in TeX.
24083 @smallexample
24084 (gdb)
24085 -gdb-version
24086 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
24087 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
24088 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
24089 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
24090 ~ certain conditions.
24091 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
24092 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
24093 ~ details.
24094 ~This GDB was configured as
24095 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
24096 ^done
24097 (gdb)
24098 @end smallexample
24099
24100 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
24101 @findex -list-features
24102
24103 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
24104 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
24105 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
24106 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
24107 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
24108 startup.
24109
24110 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
24111 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
24112 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
24113 is given below.
24114
24115 Example output:
24116
24117 @smallexample
24118 (gdb) -list-features
24119 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
24120 @end smallexample
24121
24122 The current list of features is:
24123
24124 @table @samp
24125 @item frozen-varobjs
24126 Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
24127 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
24128 of @code{-varobj-create}.
24129 @item pending-breakpoints
24130 Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
24131 @item thread-info
24132 Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
24133
24134 @end table
24135
24136 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
24137 @findex -list-target-features
24138
24139 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
24140 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
24141 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
24142 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
24143 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
24144 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
24145 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
24146 Example output:
24147
24148 @smallexample
24149 (gdb) -list-features
24150 ^done,result=["async"]
24151 @end smallexample
24152
24153 The current list of features is:
24154
24155 @table @samp
24156 @item async
24157 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
24158 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
24159 while the target is running.
24160
24161 @end table
24162
24163 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
24164 @findex -list-thread-groups
24165
24166 @subheading Synopsis
24167
24168 @smallexample
24169 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ @var{group} ]
24170 @end smallexample
24171
24172 When used without the @var{group} parameter, lists top-level thread
24173 groups that are being debugged. When used with the @var{group}
24174 parameter, the children of the specified group are listed. The
24175 children can be either threads, or other groups. At present,
24176 @value{GDBN} will not report both threads and groups as children at
24177 the same time, but it may change in future.
24178
24179 With the @samp{--available} option, instead of reporting groups that
24180 are been debugged, GDB will report all thread groups available on the
24181 target. Using the @samp{--available} option together with @var{group}
24182 is not allowed.
24183
24184 @subheading Example
24185
24186 @smallexample
24187 @value{GDBP}
24188 -list-thread-groups
24189 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
24190 -list-thread-groups 17
24191 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
24192 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
24193 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
24194 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
24195 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
24196 @end smallexample
24197
24198 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
24199 @findex -interpreter-exec
24200
24201 @subheading Synopsis
24202
24203 @smallexample
24204 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
24205 @end smallexample
24206 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
24207
24208 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
24209
24210 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
24211
24212 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
24213
24214 @subheading Example
24215
24216 @smallexample
24217 (gdb)
24218 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
24219 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
24220 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
24221 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
24222 ^done
24223 (gdb)
24224 @end smallexample
24225
24226 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
24227 @findex -inferior-tty-set
24228
24229 @subheading Synopsis
24230
24231 @smallexample
24232 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
24233 @end smallexample
24234
24235 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
24236
24237 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
24238
24239 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
24240
24241 @subheading Example
24242
24243 @smallexample
24244 (gdb)
24245 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
24246 ^done
24247 (gdb)
24248 @end smallexample
24249
24250 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
24251 @findex -inferior-tty-show
24252
24253 @subheading Synopsis
24254
24255 @smallexample
24256 -inferior-tty-show
24257 @end smallexample
24258
24259 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
24260
24261 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
24262
24263 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
24264
24265 @subheading Example
24266
24267 @smallexample
24268 (gdb)
24269 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
24270 ^done
24271 (gdb)
24272 -inferior-tty-show
24273 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
24274 (gdb)
24275 @end smallexample
24276
24277 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
24278 @findex -enable-timings
24279
24280 @subheading Synopsis
24281
24282 @smallexample
24283 -enable-timings [yes | no]
24284 @end smallexample
24285
24286 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
24287 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
24288 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
24289 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
24290
24291 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
24292
24293 No equivalent.
24294
24295 @subheading Example
24296
24297 @smallexample
24298 (gdb)
24299 -enable-timings
24300 ^done
24301 (gdb)
24302 -break-insert main
24303 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24304 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
24305 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
24306 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
24307 (gdb)
24308 -enable-timings no
24309 ^done
24310 (gdb)
24311 -exec-run
24312 ^running
24313 (gdb)
24314 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
24315 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
24316 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
24317 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
24318 (gdb)
24319 @end smallexample
24320
24321 @node Annotations
24322 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
24323
24324 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
24325 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
24326 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
24327 relatively high level.
24328
24329 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
24330 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
24331
24332 @ignore
24333 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
24334 @end ignore
24335
24336 @menu
24337 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
24338 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
24339 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
24340 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
24341 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
24342 * Annotations for Running::
24343 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
24344 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
24345 @end menu
24346
24347 @node Annotations Overview
24348 @section What is an Annotation?
24349 @cindex annotations
24350
24351 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
24352 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
24353 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
24354 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
24355 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
24356 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
24357 cannot contain newline characters.
24358
24359 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
24360 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
24361 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
24362 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
24363 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
24364 means those three characters as output.
24365
24366 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
24367 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
24368 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
24369 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
24370 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
24371 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
24372 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
24373 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
24374 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
24375
24376 @table @code
24377 @kindex set annotate
24378 @item set annotate @var{level}
24379 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
24380 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
24381
24382 @item show annotate
24383 @kindex show annotate
24384 Show the current annotation level.
24385 @end table
24386
24387 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
24388
24389 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
24390
24391 @smallexample
24392 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
24393 GNU gdb 6.0
24394 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
24395 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
24396 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
24397 under certain conditions.
24398 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
24399 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
24400 for details.
24401 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
24402
24403 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
24404 (@value{GDBP})
24405 ^Z^Zprompt
24406 @kbd{quit}
24407
24408 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
24409 $
24410 @end smallexample
24411
24412 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
24413 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
24414 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
24415 output from @value{GDBN}.
24416
24417 @node Server Prefix
24418 @section The Server Prefix
24419 @cindex server prefix
24420
24421 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
24422 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
24423 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
24424 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
24425 a transparent manner.
24426
24427 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
24428 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
24429 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
24430
24431 @node Prompting
24432 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
24433
24434 @cindex annotations for prompts
24435 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
24436 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
24437 over, etc.
24438
24439 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
24440 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
24441 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
24442 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
24443 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
24444 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
24445 features the following annotations:
24446
24447 @smallexample
24448 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
24449 ^Z^Zprompt
24450 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
24451 @end smallexample
24452
24453 The input types are
24454
24455 @table @code
24456 @findex pre-prompt annotation
24457 @findex prompt annotation
24458 @findex post-prompt annotation
24459 @item prompt
24460 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
24461
24462 @findex pre-commands annotation
24463 @findex commands annotation
24464 @findex post-commands annotation
24465 @item commands
24466 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
24467 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
24468
24469 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
24470 @findex overload-choice annotation
24471 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
24472 @item overload-choice
24473 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
24474
24475 @findex pre-query annotation
24476 @findex query annotation
24477 @findex post-query annotation
24478 @item query
24479 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
24480
24481 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
24482 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
24483 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
24484 @item prompt-for-continue
24485 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
24486 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
24487 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
24488 presence of annotations.
24489 @end table
24490
24491 @node Errors
24492 @section Errors
24493 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
24494
24495 @findex quit annotation
24496 @smallexample
24497 ^Z^Zquit
24498 @end smallexample
24499
24500 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
24501
24502 @findex error annotation
24503 @smallexample
24504 ^Z^Zerror
24505 @end smallexample
24506
24507 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
24508
24509 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
24510 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
24511 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
24512 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
24513 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
24514 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
24515 to the top level.
24516
24517 @findex error-begin annotation
24518 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
24519
24520 @smallexample
24521 ^Z^Zerror-begin
24522 @end smallexample
24523
24524 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
24525 message.
24526
24527 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
24528 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
24529 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
24530
24531 @node Invalidation
24532 @section Invalidation Notices
24533
24534 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
24535 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
24536 changed.
24537
24538 @table @code
24539 @findex frames-invalid annotation
24540 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
24541
24542 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
24543 have changed.
24544
24545 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
24546 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
24547
24548 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
24549 deleted a breakpoint.
24550 @end table
24551
24552 @node Annotations for Running
24553 @section Running the Program
24554 @cindex annotations for running programs
24555
24556 @findex starting annotation
24557 @findex stopping annotation
24558 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
24559 @code{step} or @code{continue},
24560
24561 @smallexample
24562 ^Z^Zstarting
24563 @end smallexample
24564
24565 is output. When the program stops,
24566
24567 @smallexample
24568 ^Z^Zstopped
24569 @end smallexample
24570
24571 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
24572 annotations describe how the program stopped.
24573
24574 @table @code
24575 @findex exited annotation
24576 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
24577 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
24578 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
24579
24580 @findex signalled annotation
24581 @findex signal-name annotation
24582 @findex signal-name-end annotation
24583 @findex signal-string annotation
24584 @findex signal-string-end annotation
24585 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
24586 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
24587 annotation continues:
24588
24589 @smallexample
24590 @var{intro-text}
24591 ^Z^Zsignal-name
24592 @var{name}
24593 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
24594 @var{middle-text}
24595 ^Z^Zsignal-string
24596 @var{string}
24597 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
24598 @var{end-text}
24599 @end smallexample
24600
24601 @noindent
24602 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
24603 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
24604 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
24605 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
24606 user's benefit and have no particular format.
24607
24608 @findex signal annotation
24609 @item ^Z^Zsignal
24610 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
24611 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
24612 terminated with it.
24613
24614 @findex breakpoint annotation
24615 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
24616 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
24617
24618 @findex watchpoint annotation
24619 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
24620 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
24621 @end table
24622
24623 @node Source Annotations
24624 @section Displaying Source
24625 @cindex annotations for source display
24626
24627 @findex source annotation
24628 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
24629
24630 @smallexample
24631 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
24632 @end smallexample
24633
24634 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
24635 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
24636 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
24637 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
24638 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
24639 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
24640 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
24641 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
24642 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
24643 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
24644 depend on the language).
24645
24646 @node GDB Bugs
24647 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
24648 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
24649 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
24650
24651 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
24652
24653 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
24654 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
24655 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
24656 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
24657
24658 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
24659 information that enables us to fix the bug.
24660
24661 @menu
24662 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
24663 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
24664 @end menu
24665
24666 @node Bug Criteria
24667 @section Have You Found a Bug?
24668 @cindex bug criteria
24669
24670 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
24671
24672 @itemize @bullet
24673 @cindex fatal signal
24674 @cindex debugger crash
24675 @cindex crash of debugger
24676 @item
24677 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
24678 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
24679
24680 @cindex error on valid input
24681 @item
24682 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
24683 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
24684 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
24685
24686 @cindex invalid input
24687 @item
24688 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
24689 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
24690 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
24691 for traditional practice''.
24692
24693 @item
24694 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
24695 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
24696 @end itemize
24697
24698 @node Bug Reporting
24699 @section How to Report Bugs
24700 @cindex bug reports
24701 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
24702
24703 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
24704 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
24705 contact that organization first.
24706
24707 You can find contact information for many support companies and
24708 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
24709 distribution.
24710 @c should add a web page ref...
24711
24712 @ifset BUGURL
24713 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
24714 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
24715 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
24716 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
24717 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
24718 be used.
24719
24720 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
24721 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
24722 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
24723 @samp{bug-gdb}.
24724
24725 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
24726 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
24727 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
24728 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
24729 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
24730 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
24731 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
24732 bug reports to the mailing list.
24733 @end ifset
24734 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
24735 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
24736 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
24737 @end ifclear
24738 @end ifset
24739
24740 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
24741 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
24742 fact or leave it out, state it!
24743
24744 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
24745 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
24746 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
24747 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
24748 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
24749 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
24750 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
24751 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
24752 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
24753
24754 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
24755 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
24756 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
24757 self-contained.
24758
24759 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
24760 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
24761 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
24762 bugs properly.
24763
24764 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
24765
24766 @itemize @bullet
24767 @item
24768 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
24769 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
24770 version}.
24771
24772 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
24773 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
24774
24775 @item
24776 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
24777 version number.
24778
24779 @item
24780 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
24781 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
24782
24783 @item
24784 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
24785 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
24786 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
24787 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
24788 those compilers.
24789
24790 @item
24791 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
24792 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
24793 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
24794 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
24795
24796 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
24797 and then we might not encounter the bug.
24798
24799 @item
24800 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
24801 reproduce the bug.
24802
24803 @item
24804 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
24805 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
24806
24807 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
24808 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
24809 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
24810 a chance to make a mistake.
24811
24812 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
24813 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
24814 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
24815 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
24816 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
24817 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
24818 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
24819 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
24820
24821 @pindex script
24822 @cindex recording a session script
24823 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
24824 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
24825 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
24826 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
24827
24828 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
24829 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
24830
24831 @item
24832 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
24833 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
24834 it by context, not by line number.
24835
24836 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
24837 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
24838
24839 @end itemize
24840
24841 Here are some things that are not necessary:
24842
24843 @itemize @bullet
24844 @item
24845 A description of the envelope of the bug.
24846
24847 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
24848 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
24849 changes will not affect it.
24850
24851 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
24852 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
24853 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
24854 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
24855
24856 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
24857 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
24858 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
24859 less time, and so on.
24860
24861 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
24862 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
24863
24864 @item
24865 A patch for the bug.
24866
24867 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
24868 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
24869 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
24870 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
24871
24872 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
24873 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
24874 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
24875 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
24876
24877 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
24878 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
24879 help us to understand.
24880
24881 @item
24882 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
24883
24884 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
24885 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
24886 @end itemize
24887
24888 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
24889 @c and consists of the two following files:
24890 @c rluser.texinfo
24891 @c inc-hist.texinfo
24892 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
24893 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
24894 @include rluser.texi
24895 @include inc-hist.texinfo
24896
24897
24898 @node Formatting Documentation
24899 @appendix Formatting Documentation
24900
24901 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
24902 @cindex reference card
24903 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
24904 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
24905 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
24906 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
24907 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
24908 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
24909
24910 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
24911 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
24912
24913 @smallexample
24914 make refcard.dvi
24915 @end smallexample
24916
24917 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
24918 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
24919 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
24920 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
24921 your @sc{dvi} output program.
24922
24923 @cindex documentation
24924
24925 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
24926 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
24927 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
24928 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
24929 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
24930 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
24931
24932 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
24933 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
24934 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
24935 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
24936 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
24937 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
24938 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
24939 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
24940
24941 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
24942 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
24943 @code{makeinfo}.
24944
24945 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
24946 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
24947 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
24948
24949 @smallexample
24950 cd gdb
24951 make gdb.info
24952 @end smallexample
24953
24954 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
24955 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
24956 Texinfo definitions file.
24957
24958 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
24959 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
24960 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
24961 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
24962 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
24963 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
24964 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
24965
24966 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
24967 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
24968 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
24969 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
24970 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
24971 directory.
24972
24973 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
24974 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
24975 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
24976 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
24977
24978 @smallexample
24979 make gdb.dvi
24980 @end smallexample
24981
24982 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
24983
24984 @node Installing GDB
24985 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
24986 @cindex installation
24987
24988 @menu
24989 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
24990 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
24991 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
24992 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
24993 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
24994 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
24995 @end menu
24996
24997 @node Requirements
24998 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
24999 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
25000
25001 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
25002 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
25003
25004 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
25005 @table @asis
25006 @item ISO C90 compiler
25007 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
25008 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
25009
25010 @end table
25011
25012 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
25013 @table @asis
25014 @item Expat
25015 @anchor{Expat}
25016 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
25017 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
25018 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
25019 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
25020 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
25021 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
25022
25023 Expat is used for:
25024
25025 @itemize @bullet
25026 @item
25027 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
25028 @item
25029 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
25030 @item
25031 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
25032 @item
25033 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
25034 @end itemize
25035
25036 @item zlib
25037 @cindex compressed debug sections
25038 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
25039 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
25040 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
25041 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
25042 information in such binaries.
25043
25044 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
25045 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
25046 @url{http://zlib.net}.
25047
25048 @item iconv
25049 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
25050 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
25051 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
25052 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
25053
25054 On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
25055 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
25056 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
25057
25058 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
25059 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
25060 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
25061 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
25062 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
25063 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
25064 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
25065 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
25066 @end table
25067
25068 @node Running Configure
25069 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
25070 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
25071 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
25072 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
25073 build the @code{gdb} program.
25074 @iftex
25075 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
25076 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
25077 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
25078 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
25079 @end iftex
25080
25081 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
25082 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
25083 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
25084
25085 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
25086 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
25087
25088 @table @code
25089 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
25090 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
25091
25092 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
25093 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
25094
25095 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
25096 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
25097
25098 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
25099 @sc{gnu} include files
25100
25101 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
25102 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
25103
25104 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
25105 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
25106
25107 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
25108 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
25109
25110 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
25111 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
25112
25113 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
25114 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
25115 @end table
25116
25117 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
25118 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
25119 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
25120
25121 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
25122 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
25123 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
25124 argument.
25125
25126 For example:
25127
25128 @smallexample
25129 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
25130 ./configure @var{host}
25131 make
25132 @end smallexample
25133
25134 @noindent
25135 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
25136 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
25137 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
25138 correct value by examining your system.)
25139
25140 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
25141 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
25142 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
25143 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
25144
25145 @need 750
25146 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
25147 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
25148 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
25149
25150 @smallexample
25151 sh configure @var{host}
25152 @end smallexample
25153
25154 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
25155 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
25156 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
25157 @file{configure}
25158 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
25159 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
25160
25161 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
25162 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
25163 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
25164 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
25165 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
25166 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
25167 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
25168 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
25169 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
25170
25171 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
25172 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
25173 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
25174 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
25175 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
25176
25177 @node Separate Objdir
25178 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
25179
25180 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
25181 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
25182 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
25183 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
25184 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
25185 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
25186 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
25187 program specified there.
25188
25189 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
25190 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
25191 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
25192 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
25193 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
25194 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
25195
25196 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
25197 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
25198
25199 @smallexample
25200 @group
25201 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
25202 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
25203 cd ../gdb-sun4
25204 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
25205 make
25206 @end group
25207 @end smallexample
25208
25209 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
25210 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
25211 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
25212 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
25213 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
25214 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
25215
25216 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
25217 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
25218 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
25219 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
25220 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
25221
25222 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
25223 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
25224 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
25225 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
25226 You specify a cross-debugging target by
25227 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
25228
25229 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
25230 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
25231 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
25232
25233 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
25234 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
25235 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
25236 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
25237 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
25238
25239 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
25240 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
25241 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
25242 with each other.
25243
25244 @node Config Names
25245 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
25246
25247 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
25248 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
25249 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
25250 of information in the following pattern:
25251
25252 @smallexample
25253 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
25254 @end smallexample
25255
25256 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
25257 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
25258 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
25259
25260 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
25261 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
25262 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
25263 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
25264 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
25265 abbreviations---for example:
25266
25267 @smallexample
25268 % sh config.sub i386-linux
25269 i386-pc-linux-gnu
25270 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
25271 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
25272 % sh config.sub hp9k700
25273 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
25274 % sh config.sub sun4
25275 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
25276 % sh config.sub sun3
25277 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
25278 % sh config.sub i986v
25279 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
25280 @end smallexample
25281
25282 @noindent
25283 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
25284 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
25285
25286 @node Configure Options
25287 @section @file{configure} Options
25288
25289 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
25290 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
25291 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
25292 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
25293
25294 @smallexample
25295 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
25296 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
25297 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
25298 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
25299 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
25300 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
25301 @var{host}
25302 @end smallexample
25303
25304 @noindent
25305 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
25306 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
25307 @samp{--}.
25308
25309 @table @code
25310 @item --help
25311 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
25312
25313 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
25314 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
25315 @file{@var{dir}}.
25316
25317 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
25318 Configure the source to install programs under directory
25319 @file{@var{dir}}.
25320
25321 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
25322 @need 2000
25323 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
25324 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
25325 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
25326 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
25327 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
25328 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
25329 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
25330 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
25331 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
25332 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
25333 @var{dirname}.
25334
25335 @item --norecursion
25336 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
25337 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
25338
25339 @item --target=@var{target}
25340 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
25341 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
25342 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
25343
25344 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
25345
25346 @item @var{host} @dots{}
25347 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
25348
25349 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
25350 @end table
25351
25352 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
25353 needed for special purposes only.
25354
25355 @node System-wide configuration
25356 @section System-wide configuration and settings
25357 @cindex system-wide init file
25358
25359 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
25360 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
25361 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
25362
25363 Here is the corresponding configure option:
25364
25365 @table @code
25366 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
25367 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
25368 @var{file}.
25369 @end table
25370
25371 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
25372 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
25373
25374 @itemize @bullet
25375 @item
25376 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
25377 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
25378 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
25379 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
25380 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
25381 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
25382
25383 @item
25384 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
25385 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
25386 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
25387 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
25388 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
25389 @end itemize
25390
25391 @node Maintenance Commands
25392 @appendix Maintenance Commands
25393 @cindex maintenance commands
25394 @cindex internal commands
25395
25396 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
25397 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
25398 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
25399 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
25400 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
25401
25402 @table @code
25403 @kindex maint agent
25404 @item maint agent @var{expression}
25405 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
25406 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
25407 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
25408
25409 @kindex maint info breakpoints
25410 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
25411 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
25412 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
25413 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
25414 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
25415 is shown:
25416
25417 @table @code
25418 @item breakpoint
25419 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
25420
25421 @item watchpoint
25422 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
25423
25424 @item longjmp
25425 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
25426 @code{longjmp} calls.
25427
25428 @item longjmp resume
25429 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
25430
25431 @item until
25432 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
25433
25434 @item finish
25435 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
25436
25437 @item shlib events
25438 Shared library events.
25439
25440 @end table
25441
25442 @kindex set displaced-stepping
25443 @kindex show displaced-stepping
25444 @cindex displaced stepping support
25445 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
25446 @item set displaced-stepping
25447 @itemx show displaced-stepping
25448 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
25449 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
25450 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
25451 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
25452 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
25453
25454 @table @code
25455 @item set displaced-stepping on
25456 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
25457 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
25458
25459 @item set displaced-stepping off
25460 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
25461 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
25462
25463 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
25464 @item set displaced-stepping auto
25465 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
25466 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
25467 architecture supports displaced stepping.
25468 @end table
25469
25470 @kindex maint check-symtabs
25471 @item maint check-symtabs
25472 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
25473
25474 @kindex maint cplus first_component
25475 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
25476 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
25477
25478 @kindex maint cplus namespace
25479 @item maint cplus namespace
25480 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
25481
25482 @kindex maint demangle
25483 @item maint demangle @var{name}
25484 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
25485
25486 @kindex maint deprecate
25487 @kindex maint undeprecate
25488 @cindex deprecated commands
25489 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
25490 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
25491 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
25492 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
25493 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
25494 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
25495 the replacement as part of the warning.
25496
25497 @kindex maint dump-me
25498 @item maint dump-me
25499 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
25500 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
25501 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
25502 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
25503
25504 @kindex maint internal-error
25505 @kindex maint internal-warning
25506 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
25507 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
25508 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
25509 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
25510 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
25511 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
25512 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
25513 @value{GDBN} session.
25514
25515 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
25516 used as the text of the error or warning message.
25517
25518 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
25519
25520 @smallexample
25521 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
25522 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
25523 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
25524 debugging may prove unreliable.
25525 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
25526 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
25527 (@value{GDBP})
25528 @end smallexample
25529
25530 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
25531 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
25532
25533 @kindex maint set internal-error
25534 @kindex maint show internal-error
25535 @kindex maint set internal-warning
25536 @kindex maint show internal-warning
25537 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
25538 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
25539 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
25540 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
25541 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
25542 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
25543 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
25544 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
25545 described in the table below.
25546
25547 @table @samp
25548 @item quit
25549 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
25550 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
25551
25552 @item corefile
25553 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
25554 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
25555 @end table
25556
25557 @kindex maint packet
25558 @item maint packet @var{text}
25559 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
25560 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
25561 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
25562 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
25563 checksum.
25564
25565 @kindex maint print architecture
25566 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
25567 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
25568 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
25569
25570 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
25571 @item maint print c-tdesc
25572 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
25573 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
25574 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
25575
25576 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
25577 @item maint print dummy-frames
25578 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
25579
25580 @smallexample
25581 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
25582 @dots{}
25583 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
25584 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
25585 58 return (a + b);
25586 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
25587 @dots{}
25588 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
25589 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
25590 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
25591 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
25592 (@value{GDBP})
25593 @end smallexample
25594
25595 Takes an optional file parameter.
25596
25597 @kindex maint print registers
25598 @kindex maint print raw-registers
25599 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
25600 @kindex maint print register-groups
25601 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
25602 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
25603 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
25604 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
25605 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
25606
25607 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
25608 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
25609 includes the (cooked) value of all registers; and the command
25610 @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
25611 register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
25612 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
25613
25614 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
25615 write the information.
25616
25617 @kindex maint print reggroups
25618 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
25619 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
25620 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
25621 information.
25622
25623 The register groups info looks like this:
25624
25625 @smallexample
25626 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
25627 Group Type
25628 general user
25629 float user
25630 all user
25631 vector user
25632 system user
25633 save internal
25634 restore internal
25635 @end smallexample
25636
25637 @kindex flushregs
25638 @item flushregs
25639 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
25640
25641 @kindex maint print objfiles
25642 @cindex info for known object files
25643 @item maint print objfiles
25644 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
25645 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
25646 and symtabs.
25647
25648 @kindex maint print statistics
25649 @cindex bcache statistics
25650 @item maint print statistics
25651 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
25652 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
25653 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
25654 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
25655 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
25656 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
25657 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
25658 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
25659 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
25660 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
25661 lengths.
25662
25663 @kindex maint print target-stack
25664 @cindex target stack description
25665 @item maint print target-stack
25666 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
25667 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
25668 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
25669 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
25670 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
25671 address.
25672
25673 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
25674 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
25675
25676 @kindex maint print type
25677 @cindex type chain of a data type
25678 @item maint print type @var{expr}
25679 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
25680 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
25681 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
25682 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
25683 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
25684
25685 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
25686 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
25687 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
25688 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
25689 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
25690
25691 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
25692 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
25693 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
25694 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
25695 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
25696 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
25697 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
25698 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
25699 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
25700
25701 @kindex maint set profile
25702 @kindex maint show profile
25703 @cindex profiling GDB
25704 @item maint set profile
25705 @itemx maint show profile
25706 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
25707
25708 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
25709 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
25710 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
25711 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
25712 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
25713 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
25714 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
25715
25716 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
25717 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
25718
25719 @kindex maint show-debug-regs
25720 @cindex x86 hardware debug registers
25721 @item maint show-debug-regs
25722 Control whether to show variables that mirror the x86 hardware debug
25723 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
25724 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
25725 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
25726 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
25727
25728 @kindex maint space
25729 @cindex memory used by commands
25730 @item maint space
25731 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
25732 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
25733 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
25734 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
25735 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
25736
25737 @kindex maint time
25738 @cindex time of command execution
25739 @item maint time
25740 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
25741 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
25742 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
25743 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
25744 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
25745 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
25746 it's not possibly currently
25747 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
25748 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
25749
25750 @kindex maint translate-address
25751 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
25752 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
25753 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
25754 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
25755 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
25756 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
25757 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
25758
25759 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
25760 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
25761 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
25762
25763 @end table
25764
25765 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
25766 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
25767
25768 @table @code
25769 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
25770 @kindex set watchdog
25771 @cindex watchdog timer
25772 @cindex timeout for commands
25773 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
25774 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
25775 reports and error and the command is aborted.
25776
25777 @item show watchdog
25778 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
25779 @end table
25780
25781 @node Remote Protocol
25782 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
25783
25784 @menu
25785 * Overview::
25786 * Packets::
25787 * Stop Reply Packets::
25788 * General Query Packets::
25789 * Register Packet Format::
25790 * Tracepoint Packets::
25791 * Host I/O Packets::
25792 * Interrupts::
25793 * Notification Packets::
25794 * Remote Non-Stop::
25795 * Packet Acknowledgment::
25796 * Examples::
25797 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
25798 * Library List Format::
25799 * Memory Map Format::
25800 @end menu
25801
25802 @node Overview
25803 @section Overview
25804
25805 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
25806 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
25807 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
25808 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
25809
25810 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
25811 transmitted and received data, respectively.
25812
25813 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
25814 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
25815 @cindex remote serial protocol
25816 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
25817 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
25818 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
25819 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
25820 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
25821
25822 @smallexample
25823 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
25824 @end smallexample
25825 @noindent
25826
25827 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
25828 @noindent
25829 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
25830 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
25831 eight bit unsigned checksum).
25832
25833 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
25834 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
25835
25836 @smallexample
25837 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
25838 @end smallexample
25839
25840 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
25841 @noindent
25842 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
25843 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
25844 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
25845
25846 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
25847 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
25848 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
25849 retransmission):
25850
25851 @smallexample
25852 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
25853 <- @code{+}
25854 @end smallexample
25855 @noindent
25856
25857 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
25858 once a connection is established.
25859 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
25860
25861 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
25862 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
25863 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
25864 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
25865 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
25866 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
25867 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
25868
25869 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
25870 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
25871 exceptions).
25872
25873 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
25874 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
25875 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
25876 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
25877
25878 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
25879 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
25880 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
25881
25882 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
25883 @anchor{Binary Data}
25884 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
25885 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
25886 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
25887 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
25888 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
25889 binary data.
25890
25891 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
25892 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
25893 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
25894 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
25895 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
25896 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
25897 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
25898 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
25899 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
25900 (described next).
25901
25902 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
25903 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
25904 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
25905 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
25906 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
25907 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
25908 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
25909 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
25910 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
25911 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
25912 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
25913 3}} more times.
25914
25915 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
25916 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
25917 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
25918 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
25919 @samp{0*"00}.
25920
25921 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
25922 error number. That number is not well defined.
25923
25924 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
25925 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
25926 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
25927 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
25928 on that response.
25929
25930 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
25931 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
25932 optional.
25933
25934 @node Packets
25935 @section Packets
25936
25937 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
25938 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
25939 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
25940 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
25941
25942 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
25943 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
25944 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
25945 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
25946 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
25947 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
25948 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
25949 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
25950 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
25951 @var{baz}.
25952
25953 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
25954 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
25955 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
25956 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
25957 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
25958 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
25959 pick any thread.
25960
25961 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
25962 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
25963 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
25964 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
25965 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
25966 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
25967 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
25968 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
25969 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
25970 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
25971 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
25972 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
25973 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
25974
25975 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
25976 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
25977 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
25978 more information.
25979
25980 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
25981 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
25982
25983 Here are the packet descriptions.
25984
25985 @table @samp
25986
25987 @item !
25988 @cindex @samp{!} packet
25989 @anchor{extended mode}
25990 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
25991 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
25992 debugged.
25993
25994 Reply:
25995 @table @samp
25996 @item OK
25997 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
25998 @end table
25999
26000 @item ?
26001 @cindex @samp{?} packet
26002 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
26003 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
26004 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
26005
26006 Reply:
26007 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
26008
26009 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
26010 @cindex @samp{A} packet
26011 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
26012 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
26013 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
26014
26015 Reply:
26016 @table @samp
26017 @item OK
26018 The arguments were set.
26019 @item E @var{NN}
26020 An error occurred.
26021 @end table
26022
26023 @item b @var{baud}
26024 @cindex @samp{b} packet
26025 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
26026 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
26027
26028 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
26029 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
26030 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
26031
26032 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
26033 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
26034 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
26035 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
26036 of view, nothing actually happened.}
26037
26038 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
26039 @cindex @samp{B} packet
26040 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
26041 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
26042
26043 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
26044 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
26045
26046 @item bc
26047 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
26048 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
26049 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
26050
26051 Reply:
26052 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
26053
26054 @item bs
26055 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
26056 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
26057 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
26058
26059 Reply:
26060 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
26061
26062 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
26063 @cindex @samp{c} packet
26064 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
26065 resume at current address.
26066
26067 Reply:
26068 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
26069
26070 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
26071 @cindex @samp{C} packet
26072 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
26073 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
26074
26075 Reply:
26076 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
26077
26078 @item d
26079 @cindex @samp{d} packet
26080 Toggle debug flag.
26081
26082 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
26083 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
26084
26085 @item D
26086 @itemx D;@var{pid}
26087 @cindex @samp{D} packet
26088 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
26089 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
26090 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
26091
26092 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
26093 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
26094 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
26095 big-endian hex string.
26096
26097 Reply:
26098 @table @samp
26099 @item OK
26100 for success
26101 @item E @var{NN}
26102 for an error
26103 @end table
26104
26105 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
26106 @cindex @samp{F} packet
26107 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
26108 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
26109 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
26110
26111 @item g
26112 @anchor{read registers packet}
26113 @cindex @samp{g} packet
26114 Read general registers.
26115
26116 Reply:
26117 @table @samp
26118 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
26119 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
26120 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
26121 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
26122 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
26123 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
26124 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
26125 @item E @var{NN}
26126 for an error.
26127 @end table
26128
26129 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
26130 @cindex @samp{G} packet
26131 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
26132 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
26133
26134 Reply:
26135 @table @samp
26136 @item OK
26137 for success
26138 @item E @var{NN}
26139 for an error
26140 @end table
26141
26142 @item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
26143 @cindex @samp{H} packet
26144 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
26145 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
26146 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
26147 operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
26148 interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
26149
26150 Reply:
26151 @table @samp
26152 @item OK
26153 for success
26154 @item E @var{NN}
26155 for an error
26156 @end table
26157
26158 @c FIXME: JTC:
26159 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
26160 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
26161 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
26162 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
26163 @c described. For example:
26164 @c
26165 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
26166 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
26167 @c otherwise returns current registers.
26168 @c
26169 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
26170 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
26171 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
26172
26173 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
26174 @anchor{cycle step packet}
26175 @cindex @samp{i} packet
26176 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
26177 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
26178 step starting at that address.
26179
26180 @item I
26181 @cindex @samp{I} packet
26182 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
26183 step packet}.
26184
26185 @item k
26186 @cindex @samp{k} packet
26187 Kill request.
26188
26189 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
26190 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
26191 thread?)}.
26192
26193 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
26194 @cindex @samp{m} packet
26195 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
26196 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
26197
26198 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
26199 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
26200 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
26201 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
26202 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
26203 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
26204 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
26205 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
26206
26207 Reply:
26208 @table @samp
26209 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
26210 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
26211 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
26212 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
26213 @item E @var{NN}
26214 @var{NN} is errno
26215 @end table
26216
26217 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
26218 @cindex @samp{M} packet
26219 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
26220 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
26221 hexadecimal number.
26222
26223 Reply:
26224 @table @samp
26225 @item OK
26226 for success
26227 @item E @var{NN}
26228 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
26229 written).
26230 @end table
26231
26232 @item p @var{n}
26233 @cindex @samp{p} packet
26234 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
26235 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
26236 register value is encoded.
26237
26238 Reply:
26239 @table @samp
26240 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
26241 the register's value
26242 @item E @var{NN}
26243 for an error
26244 @item
26245 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
26246 @end table
26247
26248 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
26249 @anchor{write register packet}
26250 @cindex @samp{P} packet
26251 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
26252 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
26253 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
26254
26255 Reply:
26256 @table @samp
26257 @item OK
26258 for success
26259 @item E @var{NN}
26260 for an error
26261 @end table
26262
26263 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
26264 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
26265 @cindex @samp{q} packet
26266 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
26267 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
26268 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
26269
26270 @item r
26271 @cindex @samp{r} packet
26272 Reset the entire system.
26273
26274 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
26275
26276 @item R @var{XX}
26277 @cindex @samp{R} packet
26278 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
26279 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
26280
26281 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
26282
26283 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
26284 @cindex @samp{s} packet
26285 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
26286 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
26287
26288 Reply:
26289 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
26290
26291 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
26292 @anchor{step with signal packet}
26293 @cindex @samp{S} packet
26294 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
26295 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
26296
26297 Reply:
26298 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
26299
26300 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
26301 @cindex @samp{t} packet
26302 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
26303 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
26304 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
26305
26306 @item T @var{thread-id}
26307 @cindex @samp{T} packet
26308 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
26309
26310 Reply:
26311 @table @samp
26312 @item OK
26313 thread is still alive
26314 @item E @var{NN}
26315 thread is dead
26316 @end table
26317
26318 @item v
26319 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
26320 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
26321
26322 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
26323 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
26324 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
26325 The process ID is a
26326 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
26327 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
26328 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
26329
26330 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
26331 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
26332 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
26333 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
26334 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
26335 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
26336 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
26337 @c stopping or restarting threads.
26338
26339 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
26340
26341 Reply:
26342 @table @samp
26343 @item E @var{nn}
26344 for an error
26345 @item @r{Any stop packet}
26346 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
26347 @item OK
26348 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
26349 @end table
26350
26351 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
26352 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
26353 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
26354 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
26355 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
26356 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
26357 in their current state in non-stop mode.
26358 Specifying multiple
26359 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
26360 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
26361
26362 Currently supported actions are:
26363
26364 @table @samp
26365 @item c
26366 Continue.
26367 @item C @var{sig}
26368 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
26369 @item s
26370 Step.
26371 @item S @var{sig}
26372 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
26373 @item t
26374 Stop.
26375 @item T @var{sig}
26376 Stop with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
26377 @end table
26378
26379 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
26380 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
26381 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
26382
26383 The @samp{t} and @samp{T} actions are only relevant in non-stop mode
26384 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
26385 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
26386 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
26387 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
26388 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
26389 as an implementation detail.
26390
26391 Reply:
26392 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
26393
26394 @item vCont?
26395 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
26396 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
26397
26398 Reply:
26399 @table @samp
26400 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
26401 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
26402 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
26403 @item
26404 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
26405 @end table
26406
26407 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
26408 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
26409 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
26410 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
26411
26412 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
26413 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
26414 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
26415 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
26416 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
26417 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
26418 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
26419 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
26420 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
26421 packet is received.
26422
26423 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
26424 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
26425 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
26426 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
26427 @var{thread-id}.
26428
26429 Reply:
26430 @table @samp
26431 @item OK
26432 for success
26433 @item E @var{NN}
26434 for an error
26435 @end table
26436
26437 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
26438 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
26439 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
26440 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
26441 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
26442 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
26443 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
26444 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
26445 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
26446 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
26447 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
26448 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
26449
26450
26451 Reply:
26452 @table @samp
26453 @item OK
26454 for success
26455 @item E.memtype
26456 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
26457 @item E @var{NN}
26458 for an error
26459 @end table
26460
26461 @item vFlashDone
26462 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
26463 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
26464 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
26465 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
26466 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
26467 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
26468 request is completed.
26469
26470 @item vKill;@var{pid}
26471 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
26472 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
26473 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
26474 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
26475 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
26476
26477 Reply:
26478 @table @samp
26479 @item E @var{nn}
26480 for an error
26481 @item OK
26482 for success
26483 @end table
26484
26485 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
26486 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
26487 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
26488 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
26489 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
26490 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
26491 state.
26492
26493 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
26494
26495 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
26496
26497 Reply:
26498 @table @samp
26499 @item E @var{nn}
26500 for an error
26501 @item @r{Any stop packet}
26502 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
26503 @end table
26504
26505 @item vStopped
26506 @anchor{vStopped packet}
26507 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
26508
26509 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
26510 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
26511
26512 Reply:
26513 @table @samp
26514 @item @r{Any stop packet}
26515 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
26516 @item OK
26517 if there are no unreported stop events
26518 @end table
26519
26520 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
26521 @anchor{X packet}
26522 @cindex @samp{X} packet
26523 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
26524 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
26525 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
26526
26527 Reply:
26528 @table @samp
26529 @item OK
26530 for success
26531 @item E @var{NN}
26532 for an error
26533 @end table
26534
26535 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
26536 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
26537 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
26538 @cindex @samp{z} packet
26539 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
26540 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
26541 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} and covering the next
26542 @var{length} bytes.
26543
26544 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
26545 separately.
26546
26547 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
26548 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
26549 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
26550 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
26551 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
26552 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
26553
26554 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
26555 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
26556 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
26557 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
26558 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
26559 @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
26560
26561 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
26562 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
26563 @var{length} is used by targets that indicates the size of the
26564 breakpoint (in bytes) that should be inserted (e.g., the @sc{arm} and
26565 @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint).
26566
26567 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
26568 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
26569 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
26570 target, is not defined.}
26571
26572 Reply:
26573 @table @samp
26574 @item OK
26575 success
26576 @item
26577 not supported
26578 @item E @var{NN}
26579 for an error
26580 @end table
26581
26582 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
26583 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
26584 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
26585 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
26586 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
26587 address @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
26588
26589 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
26590 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory.
26591
26592 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
26593 movement.}
26594
26595 Reply:
26596 @table @samp
26597 @item OK
26598 success
26599 @item
26600 not supported
26601 @item E @var{NN}
26602 for an error
26603 @end table
26604
26605 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
26606 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
26607 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
26608 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
26609 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint.
26610
26611 Reply:
26612 @table @samp
26613 @item OK
26614 success
26615 @item
26616 not supported
26617 @item E @var{NN}
26618 for an error
26619 @end table
26620
26621 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
26622 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
26623 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
26624 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
26625 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint.
26626
26627 Reply:
26628 @table @samp
26629 @item OK
26630 success
26631 @item
26632 not supported
26633 @item E @var{NN}
26634 for an error
26635 @end table
26636
26637 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
26638 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
26639 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
26640 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
26641 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint.
26642
26643 Reply:
26644 @table @samp
26645 @item OK
26646 success
26647 @item
26648 not supported
26649 @item E @var{NN}
26650 for an error
26651 @end table
26652
26653 @end table
26654
26655 @node Stop Reply Packets
26656 @section Stop Reply Packets
26657 @cindex stop reply packets
26658
26659 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
26660 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
26661 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
26662 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
26663 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
26664 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
26665 @value{GDBN} source code.
26666
26667 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
26668 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
26669 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
26670 components.
26671
26672 @table @samp
26673
26674 @item S @var{AA}
26675 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
26676 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
26677 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
26678
26679 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
26680 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
26681 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
26682 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
26683 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
26684 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
26685 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
26686 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
26687
26688 @itemize @bullet
26689 @item
26690 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
26691 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
26692 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
26693 two-digit hex number.
26694
26695 @item
26696 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
26697 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
26698
26699 @item
26700 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
26701 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
26702 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
26703 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
26704
26705 @item
26706 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
26707 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
26708 future.
26709 @end itemize
26710
26711 The currently defined stop reasons are:
26712
26713 @table @samp
26714 @item watch
26715 @itemx rwatch
26716 @itemx awatch
26717 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
26718 hex.
26719
26720 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
26721 @item library
26722 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
26723 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
26724 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
26725
26726 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
26727 @item replaylog
26728 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
26729 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
26730 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
26731 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
26732 for more information.
26733
26734
26735 @end table
26736
26737 @item W @var{AA}
26738 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
26739 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
26740 applicable to certain targets.
26741
26742 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
26743 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
26744 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
26745 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
26746
26747 @item X @var{AA}
26748 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
26749 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
26750
26751 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
26752 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
26753 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
26754 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
26755
26756 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
26757 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
26758 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
26759 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
26760 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
26761
26762 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
26763 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
26764 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
26765 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
26766 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
26767 system calls.
26768
26769 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
26770 this very system call.
26771
26772 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
26773 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
26774 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
26775 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
26776 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
26777 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
26778
26779 @end table
26780
26781 @node General Query Packets
26782 @section General Query Packets
26783 @cindex remote query requests
26784
26785 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
26786 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
26787 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
26788 sending information to and from the stub.
26789
26790 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
26791 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
26792 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
26793 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
26794 conventions:
26795
26796 @itemize @bullet
26797 @item
26798 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
26799 @item
26800 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
26801 letter.
26802 @item
26803 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
26804 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
26805 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
26806 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
26807 @end itemize
26808
26809 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
26810 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
26811 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
26812 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
26813 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
26814 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
26815 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
26816 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
26817 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
26818 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
26819 packet.}.
26820
26821 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
26822 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
26823 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
26824 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
26825 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
26826
26827 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
26828
26829 @table @samp
26830
26831 @item qC
26832 @cindex current thread, remote request
26833 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
26834 Return the current thread ID.
26835
26836 Reply:
26837 @table @samp
26838 @item QC @var{thread-id}
26839 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
26840 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
26841 @item @r{(anything else)}
26842 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
26843 @end table
26844
26845 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
26846 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
26847 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
26848 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory.
26849 Reply:
26850 @table @samp
26851 @item E @var{NN}
26852 An error (such as memory fault)
26853 @item C @var{crc32}
26854 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
26855 @end table
26856
26857 @item qfThreadInfo
26858 @itemx qsThreadInfo
26859 @cindex list active threads, remote request
26860 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
26861 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
26862 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
26863 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
26864 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
26865 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
26866 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
26867 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
26868
26869 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
26870
26871 Reply:
26872 @table @samp
26873 @item m @var{thread-id}
26874 A single thread ID
26875 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
26876 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
26877 @item l
26878 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
26879 @end table
26880
26881 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
26882 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
26883 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
26884 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
26885 with @samp{l} (lower-case el, for @dfn{last}).
26886 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
26887 fields.
26888
26889 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
26890 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
26891 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
26892 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
26893 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
26894
26895 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
26896 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
26897
26898 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
26899 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
26900 information associated with the variable.)
26901
26902 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
26903 the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
26904 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
26905 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
26906 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
26907 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
26908
26909 Reply:
26910 @table @samp
26911 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
26912 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
26913 local storage requested.
26914
26915 @item E @var{nn}
26916 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
26917
26918 @item
26919 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
26920 @end table
26921
26922 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
26923 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
26924 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
26925 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
26926 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
26927 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
26928 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
26929
26930 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
26931
26932 Reply:
26933 @table @samp
26934 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
26935 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
26936 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
26937 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
26938 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
26939 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
26940 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
26941 @end table
26942
26943 @item qOffsets
26944 @cindex section offsets, remote request
26945 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
26946 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
26947 image.
26948
26949 Reply:
26950 @table @samp
26951 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
26952 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
26953 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
26954 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
26955 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
26956 segments by the supplied offsets.
26957
26958 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
26959 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
26960 to the @code{Bss} section.}
26961
26962 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
26963 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
26964 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
26965 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
26966 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
26967 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
26968 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
26969 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
26970 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
26971 @end table
26972
26973 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
26974 @cindex thread information, remote request
26975 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
26976 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
26977 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
26978 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
26979
26980 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
26981 (see below).
26982
26983 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
26984
26985 @item QNonStop:1
26986 @item QNonStop:0
26987 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
26988 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
26989 @anchor{QNonStop}
26990 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
26991 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
26992
26993 Reply:
26994 @table @samp
26995 @item OK
26996 The request succeeded.
26997
26998 @item E @var{nn}
26999 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
27000
27001 @item
27002 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
27003 the stub.
27004 @end table
27005
27006 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
27007 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
27008 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
27009 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
27010
27011 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
27012 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
27013 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
27014 @anchor{QPassSignals}
27015 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
27016 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
27017 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
27018 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
27019 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
27020 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
27021 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
27022 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
27023 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
27024
27025 Reply:
27026 @table @samp
27027 @item OK
27028 The request succeeded.
27029
27030 @item E @var{nn}
27031 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
27032
27033 @item
27034 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
27035 the stub.
27036 @end table
27037
27038 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
27039 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
27040 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
27041 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
27042
27043 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
27044 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
27045 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
27046 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
27047 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
27048 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
27049 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
27050 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
27051 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
27052
27053 Reply:
27054 @table @samp
27055 @item OK
27056 A command response with no output.
27057 @item @var{OUTPUT}
27058 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
27059 @item E @var{NN}
27060 Indicate a badly formed request.
27061 @item
27062 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
27063 @end table
27064
27065 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
27066 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
27067 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
27068 packets.)
27069
27070 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
27071 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
27072 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
27073 @anchor{qSearch memory}
27074 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
27075 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
27076 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
27077
27078 Reply:
27079 @table @samp
27080 @item 0
27081 The pattern was not found.
27082 @item 1,address
27083 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
27084 @item E @var{NN}
27085 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
27086 @item
27087 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
27088 @end table
27089
27090 @item QStartNoAckMode
27091 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
27092 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
27093 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
27094 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
27095
27096 Reply:
27097 @table @samp
27098 @item OK
27099 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
27100 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
27101 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
27102 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
27103 @item
27104 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
27105 @end table
27106
27107 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
27108 @cindex supported packets, remote query
27109 @cindex features of the remote protocol
27110 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
27111 @anchor{qSupported}
27112 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
27113 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
27114 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
27115 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
27116 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
27117 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
27118 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
27119 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
27120 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
27121 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
27122 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
27123 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
27124 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
27125 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
27126
27127 Reply:
27128 @table @samp
27129 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
27130 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
27131 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
27132 possible forms).
27133 @item
27134 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
27135 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
27136 @end table
27137
27138 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
27139 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
27140 are:
27141
27142 @table @samp
27143 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
27144 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
27145 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
27146 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
27147 @item @var{name}+
27148 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
27149 need an associated value.
27150 @item @var{name}-
27151 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
27152 @item @var{name}?
27153 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
27154 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
27155 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
27156 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
27157 @end table
27158
27159 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
27160 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
27161 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
27162 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
27163 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
27164
27165 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
27166 are defined:
27167
27168 @table @samp
27169 @item multiprocess
27170 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
27171 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
27172 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
27173 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
27174 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
27175 @end table
27176
27177 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
27178 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
27179 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
27180 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
27181 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
27182 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
27183 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
27184 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
27185 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
27186 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
27187 all the features it supports.
27188
27189 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
27190 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
27191
27192 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
27193 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
27194 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
27195 form response.
27196
27197 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
27198 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
27199 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
27200 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
27201
27202 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
27203 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
27204 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
27205 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
27206 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
27207
27208 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
27209
27210 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
27211 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
27212 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
27213 @item Feature Name
27214 @tab Value Required
27215 @tab Default
27216 @tab Probe Allowed
27217
27218 @item @samp{PacketSize}
27219 @tab Yes
27220 @tab @samp{-}
27221 @tab No
27222
27223 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
27224 @tab No
27225 @tab @samp{-}
27226 @tab Yes
27227
27228 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
27229 @tab No
27230 @tab @samp{-}
27231 @tab Yes
27232
27233 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
27234 @tab No
27235 @tab @samp{-}
27236 @tab Yes
27237
27238 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
27239 @tab No
27240 @tab @samp{-}
27241 @tab Yes
27242
27243 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
27244 @tab No
27245 @tab @samp{-}
27246 @tab Yes
27247
27248 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
27249 @tab No
27250 @tab @samp{-}
27251 @tab Yes
27252
27253 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
27254 @tab No
27255 @tab @samp{-}
27256 @tab Yes
27257
27258 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
27259 @tab No
27260 @tab @samp{-}
27261 @tab Yes
27262
27263 @item @samp{QNonStop}
27264 @tab No
27265 @tab @samp{-}
27266 @tab Yes
27267
27268 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
27269 @tab No
27270 @tab @samp{-}
27271 @tab Yes
27272
27273 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
27274 @tab No
27275 @tab @samp{-}
27276 @tab Yes
27277
27278 @item @samp{multiprocess}
27279 @tab No
27280 @tab @samp{-}
27281 @tab No
27282
27283 @end multitable
27284
27285 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
27286
27287 @table @samp
27288 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
27289 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
27290 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
27291 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
27292 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
27293 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
27294 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
27295 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
27296 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
27297 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
27298
27299 @item qXfer:auxv:read
27300 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
27301 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
27302
27303 @item qXfer:features:read
27304 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
27305 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
27306
27307 @item qXfer:libraries:read
27308 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
27309 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
27310
27311 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
27312 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
27313 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
27314
27315 @item qXfer:spu:read
27316 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
27317 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
27318
27319 @item qXfer:spu:write
27320 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
27321 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
27322
27323 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
27324 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
27325 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
27326
27327 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
27328 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
27329 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
27330
27331 @item QNonStop
27332 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
27333 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
27334
27335 @item QPassSignals
27336 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
27337 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
27338
27339 @item QStartNoAckMode
27340 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
27341 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
27342
27343 @item multiprocess
27344 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
27345 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
27346 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
27347 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
27348 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
27349 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
27350 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
27351 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
27352 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
27353 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
27354 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
27355
27356 @item qXfer:osdata:read
27357 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
27358 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
27359
27360 @end table
27361
27362 @item qSymbol::
27363 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
27364 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
27365 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
27366 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
27367
27368 Reply:
27369 @table @samp
27370 @item OK
27371 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
27372 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
27373 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
27374 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
27375 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
27376 below.
27377 @end table
27378
27379 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
27380 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
27381
27382 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
27383 target has previously requested.
27384
27385 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
27386 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
27387 will be empty.
27388
27389 Reply:
27390 @table @samp
27391 @item OK
27392 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
27393 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
27394 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
27395 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
27396 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
27397 @end table
27398
27399 @item QTDP
27400 @itemx QTFrame
27401 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
27402
27403 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
27404 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
27405 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
27406 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
27407 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
27408 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
27409 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
27410 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
27411 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
27412 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
27413 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
27414
27415 Reply:
27416 @table @samp
27417 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
27418 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
27419 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
27420 the thread's attributes.
27421 @end table
27422
27423 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
27424 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
27425 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
27426 packets.)
27427
27428 @item QTStart
27429 @itemx QTStop
27430 @itemx QTinit
27431 @itemx QTro
27432 @itemx qTStatus
27433 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
27434
27435 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
27436 @cindex read special object, remote request
27437 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
27438 @anchor{qXfer read}
27439 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
27440 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
27441 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
27442 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
27443 additional details about what data to access.
27444
27445 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
27446 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
27447 formats, listed below.
27448
27449 @table @samp
27450 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
27451 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
27452 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
27453 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
27454
27455 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
27456 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
27457
27458 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
27459 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
27460 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
27461 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
27462 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
27463
27464 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
27465 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
27466
27467 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
27468 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
27469 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
27470 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
27471 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
27472
27473 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
27474 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
27475 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
27476
27477 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
27478 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
27479
27480 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
27481 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
27482 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
27483 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
27484 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
27485
27486 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
27487 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
27488
27489 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
27490 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
27491 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
27492 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
27493 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
27494
27495 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
27496 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
27497 (@pxref{qSupported}).
27498
27499 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
27500 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
27501 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
27502 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
27503 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
27504 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
27505 in that context to be accessed.
27506
27507 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
27508 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
27509 (@pxref{qSupported}).
27510
27511 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
27512 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
27513 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
27514 @xref{Operating System Information}.
27515
27516 @end table
27517
27518 Reply:
27519 @table @samp
27520 @item m @var{data}
27521 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
27522 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
27523 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
27524 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
27525 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
27526 request.
27527
27528 @item l @var{data}
27529 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
27530 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
27531 than the @var{length} in the request.
27532
27533 @item l
27534 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
27535 There is no more data to be read.
27536
27537 @item E00
27538 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
27539
27540 @item E @var{nn}
27541 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
27542 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
27543
27544 @item
27545 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
27546 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
27547 @end table
27548
27549 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
27550 @cindex write data into object, remote request
27551 @anchor{qXfer write}
27552 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
27553 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
27554 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
27555 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
27556 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
27557 to access.
27558
27559 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
27560 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
27561 formats, listed below.
27562
27563 @table @samp
27564 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
27565 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
27566 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
27567 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
27568 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
27569
27570 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
27571 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
27572 (@pxref{qSupported}).
27573
27574 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
27575 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
27576 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
27577 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
27578 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
27579 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
27580 in that context to be accessed.
27581
27582 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
27583 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
27584 @end table
27585
27586 Reply:
27587 @table @samp
27588 @item @var{nn}
27589 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
27590 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
27591
27592 @item E00
27593 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
27594
27595 @item E @var{nn}
27596 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
27597 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
27598
27599 @item
27600 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
27601 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
27602 @end table
27603
27604 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
27605 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
27606 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
27607 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
27608 must respond with an empty packet.
27609
27610 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
27611 @cindex query attached, remote request
27612 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
27613 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
27614 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
27615 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
27616 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
27617 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
27618 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
27619
27620 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
27621 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
27622 the @code{quit} command.
27623
27624 Reply:
27625 @table @samp
27626 @item 1
27627 The remote server attached to an existing process.
27628 @item 0
27629 The remote server created a new process.
27630 @item E @var{NN}
27631 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
27632 @end table
27633
27634 @end table
27635
27636 @node Register Packet Format
27637 @section Register Packet Format
27638
27639 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
27640 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
27641 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
27642 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
27643 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
27644 most-significant - least-significant.
27645
27646 @table @r
27647
27648 @item MIPS32
27649
27650 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
27651 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
27652 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
27653
27654 @item MIPS64
27655
27656 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
27657 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
27658 as @code{MIPS32}.
27659
27660 @end table
27661
27662 @node Tracepoint Packets
27663 @section Tracepoint Packets
27664 @cindex tracepoint packets
27665 @cindex packets, tracepoint
27666
27667 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
27668 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
27669
27670 @table @samp
27671
27672 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}@r{[}-@r{]}
27673 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
27674 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
27675 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
27676 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If the trailing @samp{-} is
27677 present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this
27678 tracepoint's actions.
27679
27680 Replies:
27681 @table @samp
27682 @item OK
27683 The packet was understood and carried out.
27684 @item
27685 The packet was not recognized.
27686 @end table
27687
27688 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
27689 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
27690 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
27691 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
27692 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
27693 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
27694 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
27695
27696 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
27697 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
27698 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
27699 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
27700 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
27701 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
27702 tracepoint actions.
27703
27704 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
27705 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
27706 following forms:
27707
27708 @table @samp
27709
27710 @item R @var{mask}
27711 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
27712 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
27713 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
27714 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
27715 not fit in a 32-bit word.
27716
27717 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
27718 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
27719 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
27720 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
27721 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
27722 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
27723 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
27724
27725 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
27726 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
27727 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
27728 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
27729 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
27730 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
27731 packet).
27732
27733 @end table
27734
27735 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
27736 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
27737 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
27738 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
27739 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
27740 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
27741 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
27742 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
27743
27744 Replies:
27745 @table @samp
27746 @item OK
27747 The packet was understood and carried out.
27748 @item
27749 The packet was not recognized.
27750 @end table
27751
27752 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
27753 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
27754 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
27755 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
27756
27757 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
27758 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
27759 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
27760 one of the following forms:
27761
27762 @table @samp
27763 @item F @var{f}
27764 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
27765 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
27766 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
27767
27768 @item T @var{t}
27769 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
27770 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
27771
27772 @end table
27773
27774 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
27775 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
27776 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
27777 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
27778
27779 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
27780 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
27781 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
27782 is a hexadecimal number.
27783
27784 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
27785 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
27786 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
27787 and @var{end} (exclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
27788 numbers.
27789
27790 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
27791 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
27792 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses.
27793
27794 @item QTStart
27795 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from tracepoint
27796 hits in the trace frame buffer.
27797
27798 @item QTStop
27799 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
27800
27801 @item QTinit
27802 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
27803
27804 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
27805 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
27806 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
27807 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
27808
27809 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
27810 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
27811 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
27812 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
27813
27814 @item qTStatus
27815 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
27816
27817 Replies:
27818 @table @samp
27819 @item T0
27820 There is no trace experiment running.
27821 @item T1
27822 There is a trace experiment running.
27823 @end table
27824
27825 @end table
27826
27827
27828 @node Host I/O Packets
27829 @section Host I/O Packets
27830 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
27831 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
27832
27833 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
27834 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
27835 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
27836 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
27837 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
27838 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
27839 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
27840 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
27841 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
27842 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
27843
27844 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
27845 its arguments. They have this format:
27846
27847 @table @samp
27848
27849 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
27850 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
27851 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
27852 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
27853 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
27854 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
27855 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
27856 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
27857 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
27858
27859 @end table
27860
27861 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
27862
27863 @table @samp
27864
27865 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
27866 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
27867 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
27868 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
27869 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
27870 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
27871 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
27872 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
27873 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
27874 @var{attachment}.
27875
27876 @item
27877 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
27878
27879 @end table
27880
27881 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
27882
27883 @table @samp
27884 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
27885 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
27886 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
27887 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
27888 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
27889 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
27890 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
27891
27892 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
27893 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
27894 -1 if an error occurs.
27895
27896 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
27897 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
27898 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
27899 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
27900 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
27901 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
27902 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
27903 @var{count} was zero.
27904
27905 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
27906 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
27907 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
27908 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
27909 some characters were escaped.
27910
27911 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
27912 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
27913 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
27914 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
27915 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
27916 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
27917 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
27918 error occurred.
27919
27920 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
27921 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
27922 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
27923
27924 @end table
27925
27926 @node Interrupts
27927 @section Interrupts
27928 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
27929
27930 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
27931 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C} or a @code{BREAK},
27932 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{remotebreak}
27933 setting (@pxref{set remotebreak}).
27934
27935 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
27936 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
27937 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
27938 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
27939 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
27940
27941 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
27942 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
27943 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
27944 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
27945 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
27946 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
27947 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
27948 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
27949
27950 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
27951 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
27952 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
27953 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
27954 currently-executing threads and processes.
27955 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
27956 running program, it should send one of the stop
27957 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
27958 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
27959 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
27960 Interrupts received while the
27961 program is stopped are discarded.
27962
27963 @node Notification Packets
27964 @section Notification Packets
27965 @cindex notification packets
27966 @cindex packets, notification
27967
27968 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
27969 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
27970 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
27971 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
27972 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
27973 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
27974 is not a problem.
27975
27976 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
27977 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
27978 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
27979 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
27980 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
27981 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
27982 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
27983
27984 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
27985 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
27986
27987 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
27988 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
27989 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
27990 not they understand it.
27991
27992 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
27993 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
27994 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
27995 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
27996 recipients.
27997
27998 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
27999 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
28000 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
28001 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
28002 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
28003
28004 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
28005 defined:
28006
28007 @table @samp
28008 @item Stop: @var{reply}
28009 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
28010 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
28011 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
28012 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
28013 @value{GDBN}.
28014 @end table
28015
28016 @node Remote Non-Stop
28017 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
28018
28019 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
28020 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
28021 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
28022 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
28023
28024 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
28025 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
28026 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
28027 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
28028 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
28029 probe the target state after a mode change.
28030
28031 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
28032 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
28033 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
28034 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
28035 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
28036 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
28037 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
28038 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
28039 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
28040 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
28041 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
28042
28043 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
28044 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
28045 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
28046 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
28047 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
28048 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
28049 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
28050 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
28051 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
28052 sending any queued stop events.
28053
28054 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
28055 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
28056 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
28057 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
28058 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
28059 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
28060 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
28061
28062 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
28063 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
28064 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
28065 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
28066 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
28067 process normally.
28068
28069 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
28070 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
28071 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
28072 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
28073 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
28074 should process normally.
28075
28076 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
28077 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
28078 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
28079 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
28080 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
28081
28082 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
28083 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
28084 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
28085 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
28086 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
28087 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
28088 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
28089 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
28090 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
28091 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
28092 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
28093 @samp{OK}.
28094
28095 @node Packet Acknowledgment
28096 @section Packet Acknowledgment
28097
28098 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
28099 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
28100 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
28101 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
28102 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
28103 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
28104 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
28105
28106 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
28107 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
28108 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
28109 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
28110 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
28111
28112 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
28113 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
28114 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
28115 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
28116
28117 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
28118 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
28119 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
28120 @pxref{qSupported}.
28121 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
28122 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
28123 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
28124 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
28125 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
28126 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
28127 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
28128
28129 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
28130 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
28131 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
28132 connection.
28133 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
28134 new connection is established,
28135 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
28136 for the current connection, once disabled.
28137
28138 @node Examples
28139 @section Examples
28140
28141 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
28142 does not get any direct output:
28143
28144 @smallexample
28145 -> @code{R00}
28146 <- @code{+}
28147 @emph{target restarts}
28148 -> @code{?}
28149 <- @code{+}
28150 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
28151 -> @code{+}
28152 @end smallexample
28153
28154 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
28155
28156 @smallexample
28157 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
28158 <- @code{+}
28159 -> @code{s}
28160 <- @code{+}
28161 @emph{time passes}
28162 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
28163 -> @code{+}
28164 -> @code{g}
28165 <- @code{+}
28166 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
28167 -> @code{+}
28168 @end smallexample
28169
28170 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
28171 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
28172 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
28173
28174 @menu
28175 * File-I/O Overview::
28176 * Protocol Basics::
28177 * The F Request Packet::
28178 * The F Reply Packet::
28179 * The Ctrl-C Message::
28180 * Console I/O::
28181 * List of Supported Calls::
28182 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
28183 * Constants::
28184 * File-I/O Examples::
28185 @end menu
28186
28187 @node File-I/O Overview
28188 @subsection File-I/O Overview
28189 @cindex file-i/o overview
28190
28191 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
28192 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
28193 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
28194 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
28195 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
28196 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
28197
28198 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
28199 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
28200 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
28201 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
28202 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
28203
28204 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
28205 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
28206 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
28207 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
28208 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
28209 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
28210 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
28211
28212 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
28213 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
28214 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
28215 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
28216 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
28217
28218 @smallexample
28219 (@value{GDBP}) continue
28220 <- target requests 'system call X'
28221 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
28222 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
28223 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
28224 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
28225 @end smallexample
28226
28227 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
28228 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
28229 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
28230 system are not supported by this protocol.
28231
28232 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
28233
28234 @node Protocol Basics
28235 @subsection Protocol Basics
28236 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
28237
28238 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
28239 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
28240 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
28241 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
28242 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
28243 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
28244 to call the appropriate host system call:
28245
28246 @itemize @bullet
28247 @item
28248 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
28249
28250 @item
28251 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
28252 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
28253 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
28254 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
28255
28256 @end itemize
28257
28258 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
28259
28260 @itemize @bullet
28261 @item
28262 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
28263 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
28264 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
28265 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
28266 packet.
28267
28268 @item
28269 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
28270 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
28271
28272 @item
28273 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
28274
28275 @item
28276 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
28277
28278 @item
28279 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
28280 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
28281 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
28282 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
28283 packet.
28284
28285 @end itemize
28286
28287 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
28288 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
28289
28290 @itemize @bullet
28291 @item
28292 Return value.
28293
28294 @item
28295 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
28296
28297 @item
28298 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
28299
28300 @end itemize
28301
28302 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
28303 the latest continue or step action.
28304
28305 @node The F Request Packet
28306 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
28307 @cindex file-i/o request packet
28308 @cindex @code{F} request packet
28309
28310 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
28311
28312 @table @samp
28313 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
28314
28315 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
28316 This is just the name of the function.
28317
28318 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
28319 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
28320 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
28321 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
28322 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
28323 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
28324 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
28325
28326 @end table
28327
28328
28329
28330 @node The F Reply Packet
28331 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
28332 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
28333 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
28334
28335 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
28336
28337 @table @samp
28338
28339 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
28340
28341 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
28342
28343 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
28344 representation.
28345 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
28346
28347 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
28348 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
28349 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
28350
28351 @smallexample
28352 F0,0,C
28353 @end smallexample
28354
28355 @noindent
28356 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
28357
28358 @smallexample
28359 F-1,4,C
28360 @end smallexample
28361
28362 @noindent
28363 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
28364
28365 @end table
28366
28367
28368 @node The Ctrl-C Message
28369 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
28370 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
28371
28372 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
28373 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
28374 the target should behave as if it had
28375 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
28376 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
28377 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
28378 packet.
28379
28380 It's important for the target to know in which
28381 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
28382
28383 @itemize @bullet
28384 @item
28385 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
28386
28387 @item
28388 The system call on the host has been finished.
28389
28390 @end itemize
28391
28392 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
28393 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
28394 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
28395 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
28396 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
28397 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
28398
28399 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
28400 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
28401 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
28402 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
28403 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
28404 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
28405 or the full action has been completed.
28406
28407 @node Console I/O
28408 @subsection Console I/O
28409 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
28410
28411 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
28412 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
28413 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
28414 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
28415 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
28416 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
28417 conditions is met:
28418
28419 @itemize @bullet
28420 @item
28421 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
28422 @code{read}
28423 system call is treated as finished.
28424
28425 @item
28426 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
28427 newline.
28428
28429 @item
28430 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
28431 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
28432
28433 @end itemize
28434
28435 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
28436 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
28437 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
28438 is stopped at the user's request.
28439
28440
28441 @node List of Supported Calls
28442 @subsection List of Supported Calls
28443 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
28444
28445 @menu
28446 * open::
28447 * close::
28448 * read::
28449 * write::
28450 * lseek::
28451 * rename::
28452 * unlink::
28453 * stat/fstat::
28454 * gettimeofday::
28455 * isatty::
28456 * system::
28457 @end menu
28458
28459 @node open
28460 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
28461 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
28462
28463 @table @asis
28464 @item Synopsis:
28465 @smallexample
28466 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
28467 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
28468 @end smallexample
28469
28470 @item Request:
28471 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
28472
28473 @noindent
28474 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
28475
28476 @table @code
28477 @item O_CREAT
28478 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
28479 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
28480 are concerned.
28481
28482 @item O_EXCL
28483 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
28484 an error and open() fails.
28485
28486 @item O_TRUNC
28487 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
28488 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
28489 truncated to zero length.
28490
28491 @item O_APPEND
28492 The file is opened in append mode.
28493
28494 @item O_RDONLY
28495 The file is opened for reading only.
28496
28497 @item O_WRONLY
28498 The file is opened for writing only.
28499
28500 @item O_RDWR
28501 The file is opened for reading and writing.
28502 @end table
28503
28504 @noindent
28505 Other bits are silently ignored.
28506
28507
28508 @noindent
28509 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
28510
28511 @table @code
28512 @item S_IRUSR
28513 User has read permission.
28514
28515 @item S_IWUSR
28516 User has write permission.
28517
28518 @item S_IRGRP
28519 Group has read permission.
28520
28521 @item S_IWGRP
28522 Group has write permission.
28523
28524 @item S_IROTH
28525 Others have read permission.
28526
28527 @item S_IWOTH
28528 Others have write permission.
28529 @end table
28530
28531 @noindent
28532 Other bits are silently ignored.
28533
28534
28535 @item Return value:
28536 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
28537 occurred.
28538
28539 @item Errors:
28540
28541 @table @code
28542 @item EEXIST
28543 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
28544
28545 @item EISDIR
28546 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
28547
28548 @item EACCES
28549 The requested access is not allowed.
28550
28551 @item ENAMETOOLONG
28552 @var{pathname} was too long.
28553
28554 @item ENOENT
28555 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
28556
28557 @item ENODEV
28558 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
28559
28560 @item EROFS
28561 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
28562 write access was requested.
28563
28564 @item EFAULT
28565 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
28566
28567 @item ENOSPC
28568 No space on device to create the file.
28569
28570 @item EMFILE
28571 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
28572
28573 @item ENFILE
28574 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
28575 has been reached.
28576
28577 @item EINTR
28578 The call was interrupted by the user.
28579 @end table
28580
28581 @end table
28582
28583 @node close
28584 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
28585 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
28586
28587 @table @asis
28588 @item Synopsis:
28589 @smallexample
28590 int close(int fd);
28591 @end smallexample
28592
28593 @item Request:
28594 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
28595
28596 @item Return value:
28597 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
28598
28599 @item Errors:
28600
28601 @table @code
28602 @item EBADF
28603 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
28604
28605 @item EINTR
28606 The call was interrupted by the user.
28607 @end table
28608
28609 @end table
28610
28611 @node read
28612 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
28613 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
28614
28615 @table @asis
28616 @item Synopsis:
28617 @smallexample
28618 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
28619 @end smallexample
28620
28621 @item Request:
28622 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
28623
28624 @item Return value:
28625 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
28626 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
28627 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
28628
28629 @item Errors:
28630
28631 @table @code
28632 @item EBADF
28633 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
28634 reading.
28635
28636 @item EFAULT
28637 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
28638
28639 @item EINTR
28640 The call was interrupted by the user.
28641 @end table
28642
28643 @end table
28644
28645 @node write
28646 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
28647 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
28648
28649 @table @asis
28650 @item Synopsis:
28651 @smallexample
28652 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
28653 @end smallexample
28654
28655 @item Request:
28656 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
28657
28658 @item Return value:
28659 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
28660 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
28661 is returned.
28662
28663 @item Errors:
28664
28665 @table @code
28666 @item EBADF
28667 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
28668 writing.
28669
28670 @item EFAULT
28671 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
28672
28673 @item EFBIG
28674 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
28675 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
28676
28677 @item ENOSPC
28678 No space on device to write the data.
28679
28680 @item EINTR
28681 The call was interrupted by the user.
28682 @end table
28683
28684 @end table
28685
28686 @node lseek
28687 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
28688 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
28689
28690 @table @asis
28691 @item Synopsis:
28692 @smallexample
28693 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
28694 @end smallexample
28695
28696 @item Request:
28697 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
28698
28699 @var{flag} is one of:
28700
28701 @table @code
28702 @item SEEK_SET
28703 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
28704
28705 @item SEEK_CUR
28706 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
28707 bytes.
28708
28709 @item SEEK_END
28710 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
28711 bytes.
28712 @end table
28713
28714 @item Return value:
28715 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
28716 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
28717 value of -1 is returned.
28718
28719 @item Errors:
28720
28721 @table @code
28722 @item EBADF
28723 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
28724
28725 @item ESPIPE
28726 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
28727
28728 @item EINVAL
28729 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
28730
28731 @item EINTR
28732 The call was interrupted by the user.
28733 @end table
28734
28735 @end table
28736
28737 @node rename
28738 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
28739 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
28740
28741 @table @asis
28742 @item Synopsis:
28743 @smallexample
28744 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
28745 @end smallexample
28746
28747 @item Request:
28748 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
28749
28750 @item Return value:
28751 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
28752
28753 @item Errors:
28754
28755 @table @code
28756 @item EISDIR
28757 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
28758 directory.
28759
28760 @item EEXIST
28761 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
28762
28763 @item EBUSY
28764 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
28765 process.
28766
28767 @item EINVAL
28768 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
28769 of itself.
28770
28771 @item ENOTDIR
28772 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
28773 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
28774 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
28775
28776 @item EFAULT
28777 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
28778
28779 @item EACCES
28780 No access to the file or the path of the file.
28781
28782 @item ENAMETOOLONG
28783
28784 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
28785
28786 @item ENOENT
28787 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
28788
28789 @item EROFS
28790 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
28791
28792 @item ENOSPC
28793 The device containing the file has no room for the new
28794 directory entry.
28795
28796 @item EINTR
28797 The call was interrupted by the user.
28798 @end table
28799
28800 @end table
28801
28802 @node unlink
28803 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
28804 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
28805
28806 @table @asis
28807 @item Synopsis:
28808 @smallexample
28809 int unlink(const char *pathname);
28810 @end smallexample
28811
28812 @item Request:
28813 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
28814
28815 @item Return value:
28816 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
28817
28818 @item Errors:
28819
28820 @table @code
28821 @item EACCES
28822 No access to the file or the path of the file.
28823
28824 @item EPERM
28825 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
28826
28827 @item EBUSY
28828 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
28829 being used by another process.
28830
28831 @item EFAULT
28832 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
28833
28834 @item ENAMETOOLONG
28835 @var{pathname} was too long.
28836
28837 @item ENOENT
28838 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
28839
28840 @item ENOTDIR
28841 A component of the path is not a directory.
28842
28843 @item EROFS
28844 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
28845
28846 @item EINTR
28847 The call was interrupted by the user.
28848 @end table
28849
28850 @end table
28851
28852 @node stat/fstat
28853 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
28854 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
28855 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
28856
28857 @table @asis
28858 @item Synopsis:
28859 @smallexample
28860 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
28861 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
28862 @end smallexample
28863
28864 @item Request:
28865 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
28866 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
28867
28868 @item Return value:
28869 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
28870
28871 @item Errors:
28872
28873 @table @code
28874 @item EBADF
28875 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
28876
28877 @item ENOENT
28878 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
28879 path is an empty string.
28880
28881 @item ENOTDIR
28882 A component of the path is not a directory.
28883
28884 @item EFAULT
28885 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
28886
28887 @item EACCES
28888 No access to the file or the path of the file.
28889
28890 @item ENAMETOOLONG
28891 @var{pathname} was too long.
28892
28893 @item EINTR
28894 The call was interrupted by the user.
28895 @end table
28896
28897 @end table
28898
28899 @node gettimeofday
28900 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
28901 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
28902
28903 @table @asis
28904 @item Synopsis:
28905 @smallexample
28906 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
28907 @end smallexample
28908
28909 @item Request:
28910 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
28911
28912 @item Return value:
28913 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
28914
28915 @item Errors:
28916
28917 @table @code
28918 @item EINVAL
28919 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
28920
28921 @item EFAULT
28922 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
28923 @end table
28924
28925 @end table
28926
28927 @node isatty
28928 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
28929 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
28930
28931 @table @asis
28932 @item Synopsis:
28933 @smallexample
28934 int isatty(int fd);
28935 @end smallexample
28936
28937 @item Request:
28938 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
28939
28940 @item Return value:
28941 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
28942
28943 @item Errors:
28944
28945 @table @code
28946 @item EINTR
28947 The call was interrupted by the user.
28948 @end table
28949
28950 @end table
28951
28952 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
28953 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
28954 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
28955 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
28956 needed.
28957
28958
28959 @node system
28960 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
28961 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
28962
28963 @table @asis
28964 @item Synopsis:
28965 @smallexample
28966 int system(const char *command);
28967 @end smallexample
28968
28969 @item Request:
28970 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
28971
28972 @item Return value:
28973 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
28974 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
28975 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
28976 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
28977 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
28978 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
28979 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
28980
28981 @item Errors:
28982
28983 @table @code
28984 @item EINTR
28985 The call was interrupted by the user.
28986 @end table
28987
28988 @end table
28989
28990 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
28991 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
28992 the host is simplified before it's returned
28993 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
28994 is discarded, and the return value consists
28995 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
28996
28997 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
28998 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
28999 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
29000
29001 @table @code
29002 @item set remote system-call-allowed
29003 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
29004 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
29005 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
29006
29007 @item show remote system-call-allowed
29008 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
29009 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
29010 protocol.
29011 @end table
29012
29013 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
29014 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
29015 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
29016
29017 @menu
29018 * Integral Datatypes::
29019 * Pointer Values::
29020 * Memory Transfer::
29021 * struct stat::
29022 * struct timeval::
29023 @end menu
29024
29025 @node Integral Datatypes
29026 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
29027 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
29028
29029 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
29030 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
29031 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
29032
29033 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
29034 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
29035
29036 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
29037
29038 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
29039 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
29040
29041 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
29042
29043 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
29044 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
29045 byte order.
29046
29047 @node Pointer Values
29048 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
29049 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
29050
29051 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
29052 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
29053 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
29054 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
29055
29056 @smallexample
29057 @code{1aaf/12}
29058 @end smallexample
29059
29060 @noindent
29061 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
29062 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
29063 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
29064 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
29065
29066 @smallexample
29067 @code{123456/d}
29068 @end smallexample
29069
29070 @node Memory Transfer
29071 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
29072 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
29073
29074 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
29075 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
29076 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
29077 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
29078 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
29079 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
29080 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
29081
29082
29083 @node struct stat
29084 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
29085 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
29086
29087 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
29088 is defined as follows:
29089
29090 @smallexample
29091 struct stat @{
29092 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
29093 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
29094 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
29095 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
29096 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
29097 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
29098 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
29099 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
29100 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
29101 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
29102 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
29103 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
29104 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
29105 @};
29106 @end smallexample
29107
29108 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
29109 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
29110 structure is of size 64 bytes.
29111
29112 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
29113 range of values.
29114
29115 @table @code
29116
29117 @item st_dev
29118 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
29119
29120 @item st_ino
29121 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
29122
29123 @item st_mode
29124 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
29125 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
29126
29127 @item st_uid
29128 @itemx st_gid
29129 @itemx st_rdev
29130 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
29131
29132 @item st_atime
29133 @itemx st_mtime
29134 @itemx st_ctime
29135 These values have a host and file system dependent
29136 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
29137 support exact timing values.
29138 @end table
29139
29140 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
29141 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
29142 continuing.
29143
29144 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
29145 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
29146 get truncated on the target.
29147
29148 @node struct timeval
29149 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
29150 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
29151
29152 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
29153 is defined as follows:
29154
29155 @smallexample
29156 struct timeval @{
29157 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
29158 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
29159 @};
29160 @end smallexample
29161
29162 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
29163 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
29164 structure is of size 8 bytes.
29165
29166 @node Constants
29167 @subsection Constants
29168 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
29169
29170 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
29171 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
29172 values before and after the call as needed.
29173
29174 @menu
29175 * Open Flags::
29176 * mode_t Values::
29177 * Errno Values::
29178 * Lseek Flags::
29179 * Limits::
29180 @end menu
29181
29182 @node Open Flags
29183 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
29184 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
29185
29186 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
29187
29188 @smallexample
29189 O_RDONLY 0x0
29190 O_WRONLY 0x1
29191 O_RDWR 0x2
29192 O_APPEND 0x8
29193 O_CREAT 0x200
29194 O_TRUNC 0x400
29195 O_EXCL 0x800
29196 @end smallexample
29197
29198 @node mode_t Values
29199 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
29200 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
29201
29202 All values are given in octal representation.
29203
29204 @smallexample
29205 S_IFREG 0100000
29206 S_IFDIR 040000
29207 S_IRUSR 0400
29208 S_IWUSR 0200
29209 S_IXUSR 0100
29210 S_IRGRP 040
29211 S_IWGRP 020
29212 S_IXGRP 010
29213 S_IROTH 04
29214 S_IWOTH 02
29215 S_IXOTH 01
29216 @end smallexample
29217
29218 @node Errno Values
29219 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
29220 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
29221
29222 All values are given in decimal representation.
29223
29224 @smallexample
29225 EPERM 1
29226 ENOENT 2
29227 EINTR 4
29228 EBADF 9
29229 EACCES 13
29230 EFAULT 14
29231 EBUSY 16
29232 EEXIST 17
29233 ENODEV 19
29234 ENOTDIR 20
29235 EISDIR 21
29236 EINVAL 22
29237 ENFILE 23
29238 EMFILE 24
29239 EFBIG 27
29240 ENOSPC 28
29241 ESPIPE 29
29242 EROFS 30
29243 ENAMETOOLONG 91
29244 EUNKNOWN 9999
29245 @end smallexample
29246
29247 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
29248 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
29249
29250 @node Lseek Flags
29251 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
29252 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
29253
29254 @smallexample
29255 SEEK_SET 0
29256 SEEK_CUR 1
29257 SEEK_END 2
29258 @end smallexample
29259
29260 @node Limits
29261 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
29262 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
29263
29264 All values are given in decimal representation.
29265
29266 @smallexample
29267 INT_MIN -2147483648
29268 INT_MAX 2147483647
29269 UINT_MAX 4294967295
29270 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
29271 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
29272 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
29273 @end smallexample
29274
29275 @node File-I/O Examples
29276 @subsection File-I/O Examples
29277 @cindex file-i/o examples
29278
29279 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
29280 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
29281
29282 @smallexample
29283 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
29284 @emph{request memory read from target}
29285 -> @code{m1234,6}
29286 <- XXXXXX
29287 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
29288 -> @code{F6}
29289 @end smallexample
29290
29291 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
29292 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
29293
29294 @smallexample
29295 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
29296 @emph{request memory write to target}
29297 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
29298 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
29299 -> @code{F6}
29300 @end smallexample
29301
29302 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
29303 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
29304
29305 @smallexample
29306 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
29307 -> @code{F-1,9}
29308 @end smallexample
29309
29310 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
29311 host is called:
29312
29313 @smallexample
29314 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
29315 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
29316 <- @code{T02}
29317 @end smallexample
29318
29319 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
29320 host is called:
29321
29322 @smallexample
29323 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
29324 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
29325 <- @code{T02}
29326 @end smallexample
29327
29328 @node Library List Format
29329 @section Library List Format
29330 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
29331
29332 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
29333 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
29334 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
29335 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
29336 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
29337 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
29338 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
29339 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
29340 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
29341 are loaded.
29342
29343 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
29344 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
29345 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
29346 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
29347
29348 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
29349 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
29350 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
29351 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
29352 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
29353 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
29354
29355 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
29356 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
29357
29358 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
29359 offset, looks like this:
29360
29361 @smallexample
29362 <library-list>
29363 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
29364 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
29365 </library>
29366 </library-list>
29367 @end smallexample
29368
29369 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
29370 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
29371
29372 @smallexample
29373 <library-list>
29374 <library name="sharedlib.o">
29375 <section address="0x10000000"/>
29376 <section address="0x20000000"/>
29377 <section address="0x30000000"/>
29378 </library>
29379 </library-list>
29380 @end smallexample
29381
29382 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
29383
29384 @smallexample
29385 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
29386 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
29387 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
29388 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
29389 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
29390 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
29391 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
29392 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
29393 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
29394 @end smallexample
29395
29396 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
29397 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
29398 section for each library.
29399
29400 @node Memory Map Format
29401 @section Memory Map Format
29402 @cindex memory map format
29403
29404 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
29405 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
29406 memory map.
29407
29408 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
29409 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
29410 lists memory regions.
29411
29412 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
29413 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
29414
29415 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
29416
29417 @smallexample
29418 <?xml version="1.0"?>
29419 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
29420 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
29421 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
29422 <memory-map>
29423 region...
29424 </memory-map>
29425 @end smallexample
29426
29427 Each region can be either:
29428
29429 @itemize
29430
29431 @item
29432 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
29433 bytes from there:
29434
29435 @smallexample
29436 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
29437 @end smallexample
29438
29439
29440 @item
29441 A region of read-only memory:
29442
29443 @smallexample
29444 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
29445 @end smallexample
29446
29447
29448 @item
29449 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
29450 bytes in length:
29451
29452 @smallexample
29453 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
29454 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
29455 </memory>
29456 @end smallexample
29457
29458 @end itemize
29459
29460 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
29461 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
29462 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
29463
29464 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
29465
29466 @smallexample
29467 <!-- ................................................... -->
29468 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
29469 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
29470 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
29471 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
29472 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
29473 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
29474 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
29475 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
29476 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
29477 and its type, or device. -->
29478 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
29479 start CDATA #REQUIRED
29480 length CDATA #REQUIRED
29481 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
29482 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
29483 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
29484 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
29485 @end smallexample
29486
29487 @include agentexpr.texi
29488
29489 @node Target Descriptions
29490 @appendix Target Descriptions
29491 @cindex target descriptions
29492
29493 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
29494 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
29495 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
29496
29497 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
29498 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
29499 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
29500 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
29501 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
29502 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
29503 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
29504
29505 @itemize @bullet
29506 @item
29507 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
29508 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
29509 @item
29510 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
29511 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
29512 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
29513 @item
29514 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
29515 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
29516 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
29517 @end itemize
29518
29519 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
29520 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
29521 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
29522 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
29523 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
29524
29525 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
29526 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
29527
29528 @menu
29529 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
29530 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
29531 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
29532 descriptions.
29533 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
29534 @end menu
29535
29536 @node Retrieving Descriptions
29537 @section Retrieving Descriptions
29538
29539 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
29540 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
29541 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
29542 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
29543 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
29544 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
29545 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
29546 Format}.
29547
29548 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
29549 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
29550 specify a file are:
29551
29552 @table @code
29553 @cindex set tdesc filename
29554 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
29555 Read the target description from @var{path}.
29556
29557 @cindex unset tdesc filename
29558 @item unset tdesc filename
29559 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
29560 will use the description supplied by the current target.
29561
29562 @cindex show tdesc filename
29563 @item show tdesc filename
29564 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
29565 @end table
29566
29567
29568 @node Target Description Format
29569 @section Target Description Format
29570 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
29571
29572 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
29573 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
29574 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
29575 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
29576 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
29577 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
29578 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
29579
29580 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
29581 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
29582 sets. @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
29583 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
29584
29585 Here is a simple target description:
29586
29587 @smallexample
29588 <target version="1.0">
29589 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
29590 </target>
29591 @end smallexample
29592
29593 @noindent
29594 This minimal description only says that the target uses
29595 the x86-64 architecture.
29596
29597 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
29598 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
29599 are explained further below.
29600
29601 @smallexample
29602 <?xml version="1.0"?>
29603 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
29604 <target version="1.0">
29605 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
29606 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
29607 </target>
29608 @end smallexample
29609
29610 @noindent
29611 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
29612 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
29613 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
29614 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
29615 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
29616 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
29617 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
29618 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
29619 the version mismatch.
29620
29621 @subsection Inclusion
29622 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
29623 @cindex XInclude
29624 @ifnotinfo
29625 @cindex <xi:include>
29626 @end ifnotinfo
29627
29628 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
29629 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
29630 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
29631 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
29632 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
29633
29634 @smallexample
29635 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
29636 @end smallexample
29637
29638 @noindent
29639 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
29640 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
29641 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
29642 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
29643 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
29644 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
29645 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
29646 original description.
29647
29648 @subsection Architecture
29649 @cindex <architecture>
29650
29651 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
29652
29653 @smallexample
29654 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
29655 @end smallexample
29656
29657 @var{arch} is an architecture name from the same selection
29658 accepted by @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a
29659 Debugging Target}).
29660
29661 @subsection Features
29662 @cindex <feature>
29663
29664 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
29665 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
29666 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
29667 has this form:
29668
29669 @smallexample
29670 <feature name="@var{name}">
29671 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
29672 @var{reg}@dots{}
29673 </feature>
29674 @end smallexample
29675
29676 @noindent
29677 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
29678 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
29679 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
29680 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
29681
29682 @subsection Types
29683
29684 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
29685 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
29686 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
29687 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
29688 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
29689
29690 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
29691 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
29692 Types must be defined before they are used.
29693
29694 @cindex <vector>
29695 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
29696 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
29697 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
29698 @var{count}:
29699
29700 @smallexample
29701 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
29702 @end smallexample
29703
29704 @cindex <union>
29705 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
29706 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
29707 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
29708 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
29709
29710 @smallexample
29711 <union id="@var{id}">
29712 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
29713 @dots{}
29714 </union>
29715 @end smallexample
29716
29717 @subsection Registers
29718 @cindex <reg>
29719
29720 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
29721
29722 @smallexample
29723 <reg name="@var{name}"
29724 bitsize="@var{size}"
29725 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
29726 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
29727 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
29728 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
29729 @end smallexample
29730
29731 @noindent
29732 The components are as follows:
29733
29734 @table @var
29735
29736 @item name
29737 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
29738
29739 @item bitsize
29740 The register's size, in bits.
29741
29742 @item regnum
29743 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
29744 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
29745 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
29746 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
29747 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
29748 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
29749 in order of increasing register number.
29750
29751 @item save-restore
29752 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
29753 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
29754 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
29755 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
29756 ABI.
29757
29758 @item type
29759 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
29760 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
29761 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
29762 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
29763 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
29764 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
29765
29766 @item group
29767 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
29768 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
29769 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
29770 in @code{info registers}.
29771
29772 @end table
29773
29774 @node Predefined Target Types
29775 @section Predefined Target Types
29776 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
29777
29778 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
29779 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
29780 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
29781 types. The currently supported types are:
29782
29783 @table @code
29784
29785 @item int8
29786 @itemx int16
29787 @itemx int32
29788 @itemx int64
29789 @itemx int128
29790 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
29791
29792 @item uint8
29793 @itemx uint16
29794 @itemx uint32
29795 @itemx uint64
29796 @itemx uint128
29797 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
29798
29799 @item code_ptr
29800 @itemx data_ptr
29801 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
29802 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
29803 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
29804 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
29805 may be marked as data pointers.
29806
29807 @item ieee_single
29808 Single precision IEEE floating point.
29809
29810 @item ieee_double
29811 Double precision IEEE floating point.
29812
29813 @item arm_fpa_ext
29814 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
29815
29816 @end table
29817
29818 @node Standard Target Features
29819 @section Standard Target Features
29820 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
29821
29822 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
29823 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
29824 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
29825 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
29826 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
29827 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
29828 can recognize them.
29829
29830 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
29831 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
29832 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
29833 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
29834 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
29835 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
29836 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
29837 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
29838
29839 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
29840 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
29841 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
29842
29843 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
29844 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
29845 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
29846 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
29847
29848 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
29849 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
29850 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
29851
29852 @menu
29853 * ARM Features::
29854 * MIPS Features::
29855 * M68K Features::
29856 * PowerPC Features::
29857 @end menu
29858
29859
29860 @node ARM Features
29861 @subsection ARM Features
29862 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
29863
29864 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
29865 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
29866 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
29867
29868 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
29869 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
29870
29871 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
29872 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
29873 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
29874 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
29875
29876 @node MIPS Features
29877 @subsection MIPS Features
29878 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
29879
29880 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
29881 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
29882 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
29883 on the target.
29884
29885 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
29886 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
29887 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
29888
29889 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
29890 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
29891 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
29892 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
29893
29894 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
29895 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
29896 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
29897
29898 @node M68K Features
29899 @subsection M68K Features
29900 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
29901
29902 @table @code
29903 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
29904 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
29905 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
29906 One of those features must be always present.
29907 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
29908 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
29909 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
29910 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
29911
29912 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
29913 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
29914 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
29915 @samp{fpiaddr}.
29916 @end table
29917
29918 @node PowerPC Features
29919 @subsection PowerPC Features
29920 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
29921
29922 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
29923 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
29924 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
29925 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
29926
29927 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
29928 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
29929
29930 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
29931 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
29932 and @samp{vrsave}.
29933
29934 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
29935 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
29936 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
29937 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
29938 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
29939 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
29940
29941 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
29942 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
29943 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
29944 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
29945 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
29946 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
29947 user.
29948
29949 @node Operating System Information
29950 @appendix Operating System Information
29951 @cindex operating system information
29952
29953 @menu
29954 * Process list::
29955 @end menu
29956
29957 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
29958 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
29959 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
29960 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
29961 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
29962 on a different aspect of target.
29963
29964 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
29965 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
29966 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
29967 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
29968
29969 @node Process list
29970 @appendixsection Process list
29971 @cindex operating system information, process list
29972
29973 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
29974 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
29975 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
29976 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
29977
29978 An example document is:
29979
29980 @smallexample
29981 <?xml version="1.0"?>
29982 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
29983 <osdata type="processes">
29984 <item>
29985 <column name="pid">1</column>
29986 <column name="user">root</column>
29987 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
29988 </item>
29989 </osdata>
29990 @end smallexample
29991
29992 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
29993 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
29994 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
29995 displayed by @value{GDBN}. Target may provide additional columns,
29996 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
29997
29998 @include gpl.texi
29999
30000 @raisesections
30001 @include fdl.texi
30002 @lowersections
30003
30004 @node Index
30005 @unnumbered Index
30006
30007 @printindex cp
30008
30009 @tex
30010 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
30011 % meantime:
30012 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
30013 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
30014 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
30015 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
30016 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
30017 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
30018 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
30019 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
30020 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
30021 \page\colophon
30022 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
30023 @end tex
30024
30025 @bye
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