f4f7f1ef2fbf2afab51dce9a765dfdcd0414db54
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
3 @c 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
4 @c 2010, 2011 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c
6 @c %**start of header
7 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
8 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
9 @setfilename gdb.info
10 @c
11 @include gdb-cfg.texi
12 @c
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
15 @c %**end of header
16
17 @iftex
18 @c @smallbook
19 @c @cropmarks
20 @end iftex
21
22 @finalout
23 @syncodeindex ky cp
24 @syncodeindex tp cp
25
26 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
27 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
28 @syncodeindex vr cp
29 @syncodeindex fn cp
30
31 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
32 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
33 @set EDITION Tenth
34
35 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
36 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
37
38 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
39
40 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
41 @c manuals to an info tree.
42 @dircategory Software development
43 @direntry
44 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
45 @end direntry
46
47 @copying
48 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
49 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
50 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
51
52 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
54 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
55 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
56 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
57 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
58
59 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
60 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
61 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
62 @end copying
63
64 @ifnottex
65 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
66
67 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
68 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
69 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
70 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
71 @end ifset
72 Version @value{GDBVN}.
73
74 @insertcopying
75 @end ifnottex
76
77 @titlepage
78 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
79 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
80 @sp 1
81 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
82 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
83 @sp 1
84 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
85 @end ifset
86 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
87 @page
88 @tex
89 {\parskip=0pt
90 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
91 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
92 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
93 }
94 @end tex
95
96 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
97 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
98 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
99 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
100 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
101
102 @insertcopying
103 @end titlepage
104 @page
105
106 @ifnottex
107 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
108
109 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
110
111 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
112
113 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
114 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
115 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
116 @end ifset
117 Version @value{GDBVN}.
118
119 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
120
121 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
122 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
123 software in general. We will miss him.
124
125 @menu
126 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
127 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
128
129 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
130 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
131 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
132 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
133 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
134 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
135 * Stack:: Examining the stack
136 * Source:: Examining source files
137 * Data:: Examining data
138 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
139 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
140 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
141 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
142
143 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
144
145 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
146 * Altering:: Altering execution
147 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
148 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
149 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
150 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
151 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
152 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
153 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
154 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
155 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
156 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
157 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
158 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
159
160 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
161
162 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
163 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
164 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
165 @end ifset
166 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
167 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
168 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
169 @end ifclear
170 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
171 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
172 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
173 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
174 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
175 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
176 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
177 @value{GDBN}
178 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
179 the operating system
180 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
181 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
182 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
183 how you can copy and share GDB
184 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
185 * Index:: Index
186 @end menu
187
188 @end ifnottex
189
190 @contents
191
192 @node Summary
193 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
194
195 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
196 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
197 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
198
199 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
200 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
201
202 @itemize @bullet
203 @item
204 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
205
206 @item
207 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
208
209 @item
210 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
211
212 @item
213 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
214 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
215 @end itemize
216
217 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
218 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
219 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
220
221 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
222 @ref{D,,D}.
223
224 @cindex Modula-2
225 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
226 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
227
228 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
229 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
230
231 @cindex Pascal
232 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
233 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
234 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
235 syntax.
236
237 @cindex Fortran
238 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
239 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
240 underscore.
241
242 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
243 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
244
245 @menu
246 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
247 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
248 @end menu
249
250 @node Free Software
251 @unnumberedsec Free Software
252
253 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
254 General Public License
255 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
256 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
257 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
258 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
259 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
260 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
261
262 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
263 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
264 from anyone else.
265
266 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
267
268 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
269 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
270 include with the free software. Many of our most important
271 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
272 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
273 when an important free software package does not come with a free
274 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
275 gaps today.
276
277 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
278 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
279 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
280 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
281 them from the free software world.
282
283 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
284 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
285 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
286 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
287 contract to make it non-free.
288
289 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
290 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
291 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
292 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
293 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
294 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
295 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
296
297 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
298 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
299 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
300 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
301
302 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
303 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
304 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
305 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
306 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
307 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
308 community.
309
310 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
311 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
312 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
313 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
314 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
315 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
316 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
317 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
318 of the manual.
319
320 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
321 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
322 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
323 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
324 manual to replace it.
325
326 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
327 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
328 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
329 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
330 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
331 the free software community.
332
333 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
334 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
335 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
336 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
337 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
338 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
339 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
340 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
341 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
342
343 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
344 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
345 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
346 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
347 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
348 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
349 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
350 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
351
352 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
353 published by other publishers, at
354 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
355
356 @node Contributors
357 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
358
359 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
360 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
361 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
362 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
363 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
364 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
365 blow-by-blow account.
366
367 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
368
369 @quotation
370 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
371 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
372 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
373 @end quotation
374
375 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
376 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
377 releases:
378 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
379 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
380 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
381 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
382 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
383 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
384 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
385 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
386 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
387
388 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
389 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
390
391 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
392 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
393 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
394 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
395 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
396
397 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
398 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
399 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
400
401 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
402 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
403
404 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
405
406 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
407 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
408 support.
409 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
410 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
411 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
412 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
413 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
414 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
415 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
416 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
417 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
418 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
419 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
420 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
421 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
422 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
423 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
424 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
425
426 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
427
428 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
429 libraries.
430
431 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
432 about several machine instruction sets.
433
434 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
435 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
436 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
437 and RDI targets, respectively.
438
439 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
440 command-line editing and command history.
441
442 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
443 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
444
445 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
446 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
447 symbols.
448
449 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
450 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
451
452 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
453
454 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
455 processors.
456
457 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
458
459 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
460
461 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
462
463 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
464 watchpoints.
465
466 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
467
468 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
469
470 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
471 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
472
473 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
474 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
475 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
476 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
477 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
478 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
479 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
480
481 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
482 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
483
484 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
485 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
486 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
487 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
488 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
489 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
490 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
491 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
492 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
493 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
494 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
495 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
496 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
497 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
498 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
499
500 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
501 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
502
503 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
504 Hat.
505
506 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
507 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
508 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
509 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
510 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
511 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
512
513 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
514 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
515 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
516 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
517 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
518 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
519 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
520 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
521 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
522 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
523 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
524 Weigand.
525
526 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
527 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
528 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
529 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
530
531 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
532 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
533
534 @node Sample Session
535 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
536
537 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
538 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
539 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
540
541 @iftex
542 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
543 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
544 @end iftex
545
546 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
547 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
548
549 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
550 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
551 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
552 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
553 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
554 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
555 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
556 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
557 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
558
559 @smallexample
560 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
561 $ @b{./m4}
562 @b{define(foo,0000)}
563
564 @b{foo}
565 0000
566 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
567
568 @b{bar}
569 0000
570 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
571
572 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
573 @b{baz}
574 @b{Ctrl-d}
575 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
576 @end smallexample
577
578 @noindent
579 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
580
581 @smallexample
582 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
583 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
584 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
585 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
586 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
587 the conditions.
588 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
589 for details.
590
591 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
592 (@value{GDBP})
593 @end smallexample
594
595 @noindent
596 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
597 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
598 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
599 that examples fit in this manual.
600
601 @smallexample
602 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
603 @end smallexample
604
605 @noindent
606 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
607 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
608 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
609 @code{break} command.
610
611 @smallexample
612 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
613 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
614 @end smallexample
615
616 @noindent
617 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
618 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
619 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
620
621 @smallexample
622 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
623 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
624 @b{define(foo,0000)}
625
626 @b{foo}
627 0000
628 @end smallexample
629
630 @noindent
631 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
632 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
633 context where it stops.
634
635 @smallexample
636 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
637
638 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
639 at builtin.c:879
640 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
641 @end smallexample
642
643 @noindent
644 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
645 the next line of the current function.
646
647 @smallexample
648 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
649 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
650 : nil,
651 @end smallexample
652
653 @noindent
654 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
655 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
656 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
657 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
658
659 @smallexample
660 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
661 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
662 at input.c:530
663 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
664 @end smallexample
665
666 @noindent
667 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
668 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
669 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
670 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
671 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
672 stack frame for each active subroutine.
673
674 @smallexample
675 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
676 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
677 at input.c:530
678 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
679 at builtin.c:882
680 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
681 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
682 at macro.c:71
683 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
684 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
685 @end smallexample
686
687 @noindent
688 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
689 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
690 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
691
692 @smallexample
693 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
694 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
695 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
696 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
697 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
698 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
699 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
700 : xstrdup(rq);
701 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
702 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
703 @end smallexample
704
705 @noindent
706 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
707 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
708 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
709 (@code{print}) to see their values.
710
711 @smallexample
712 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
713 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
714 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
715 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
716 @end smallexample
717
718 @noindent
719 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
720 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
721 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
722
723 @smallexample
724 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
725 533 xfree(rquote);
726 534
727 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
728 : xstrdup (lq);
729 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
730 : xstrdup (rq);
731 537
732 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
733 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
734 540 @}
735 541
736 542 void
737 @end smallexample
738
739 @noindent
740 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
741 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
742
743 @smallexample
744 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
745 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
746 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
747 540 @}
748 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
749 $3 = 9
750 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
751 $4 = 7
752 @end smallexample
753
754 @noindent
755 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
756 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
757 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
758 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
759 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
760 assignments.
761
762 @smallexample
763 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
764 $5 = 7
765 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
766 $6 = 9
767 @end smallexample
768
769 @noindent
770 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
771 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
772 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
773 example that caused trouble initially:
774
775 @smallexample
776 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
777 Continuing.
778
779 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
780
781 baz
782 0000
783 @end smallexample
784
785 @noindent
786 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
787 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
788 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
789
790 @smallexample
791 @b{Ctrl-d}
792 Program exited normally.
793 @end smallexample
794
795 @noindent
796 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
797 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
798 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
799
800 @smallexample
801 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
802 @end smallexample
803
804 @node Invocation
805 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
806
807 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
808 The essentials are:
809 @itemize @bullet
810 @item
811 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
812 @item
813 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
814 @end itemize
815
816 @menu
817 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
818 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
819 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
820 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
821 @end menu
822
823 @node Invoking GDB
824 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
825
826 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
827 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
828
829 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
830 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
831
832 The command-line options described here are designed
833 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
834 options may effectively be unavailable.
835
836 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
837 specifying an executable program:
838
839 @smallexample
840 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
841 @end smallexample
842
843 @noindent
844 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
845 specified:
846
847 @smallexample
848 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
849 @end smallexample
850
851 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
852 to debug a running process:
853
854 @smallexample
855 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
856 @end smallexample
857
858 @noindent
859 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
860 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
861
862 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
863 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
864 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
865 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
866 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
867
868 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
869 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
870 option processing.
871 @smallexample
872 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
873 @end smallexample
874 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
875 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
876
877 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
878 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
879
880 @smallexample
881 @value{GDBP} -silent
882 @end smallexample
883
884 @noindent
885 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
886 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
887
888 @noindent
889 Type
890
891 @smallexample
892 @value{GDBP} -help
893 @end smallexample
894
895 @noindent
896 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
897 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
898
899 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
900 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
901 @samp{-x} option is used.
902
903
904 @menu
905 * File Options:: Choosing files
906 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
907 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
908 @end menu
909
910 @node File Options
911 @subsection Choosing Files
912
913 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
914 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
915 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
916 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
917 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
918 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
919 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
920 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
921 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
922 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
923 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
924 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
925 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
926
927 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
928 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
929 argument and ignore it.
930
931 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
932 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
933 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
934 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
935 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
936
937 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
938 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
939 @c it.
940
941 @table @code
942 @item -symbols @var{file}
943 @itemx -s @var{file}
944 @cindex @code{--symbols}
945 @cindex @code{-s}
946 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
947
948 @item -exec @var{file}
949 @itemx -e @var{file}
950 @cindex @code{--exec}
951 @cindex @code{-e}
952 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
953 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
954
955 @item -se @var{file}
956 @cindex @code{--se}
957 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
958 file.
959
960 @item -core @var{file}
961 @itemx -c @var{file}
962 @cindex @code{--core}
963 @cindex @code{-c}
964 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
965
966 @item -pid @var{number}
967 @itemx -p @var{number}
968 @cindex @code{--pid}
969 @cindex @code{-p}
970 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
971
972 @item -command @var{file}
973 @itemx -x @var{file}
974 @cindex @code{--command}
975 @cindex @code{-x}
976 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
977 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
978 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
979
980 @item -eval-command @var{command}
981 @itemx -ex @var{command}
982 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
983 @cindex @code{-ex}
984 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
985
986 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
987 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
988
989 @smallexample
990 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
991 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
992 @end smallexample
993
994 @item -directory @var{directory}
995 @itemx -d @var{directory}
996 @cindex @code{--directory}
997 @cindex @code{-d}
998 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
999
1000 @item -r
1001 @itemx -readnow
1002 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1003 @cindex @code{-r}
1004 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1005 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1006 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1007
1008 @end table
1009
1010 @node Mode Options
1011 @subsection Choosing Modes
1012
1013 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1014 batch mode or quiet mode.
1015
1016 @table @code
1017 @item -nx
1018 @itemx -n
1019 @cindex @code{--nx}
1020 @cindex @code{-n}
1021 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1022 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1023 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1024 Files}.
1025
1026 @item -quiet
1027 @itemx -silent
1028 @itemx -q
1029 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1030 @cindex @code{--silent}
1031 @cindex @code{-q}
1032 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1033 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1034
1035 @item -batch
1036 @cindex @code{--batch}
1037 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1038 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1039 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1040 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1041 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1042 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1043 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1044
1045 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1046 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1047 make this more useful, the message
1048
1049 @smallexample
1050 Program exited normally.
1051 @end smallexample
1052
1053 @noindent
1054 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1055 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1056 mode.
1057
1058 @item -batch-silent
1059 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1060 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1061 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1062 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1063 for an interactive session.
1064
1065 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1066 messages, for example.
1067
1068 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1069 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1070
1071 @item -return-child-result
1072 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1073 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1074 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1075
1076 @itemize @bullet
1077 @item
1078 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1079 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1080 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1081 @item
1082 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1083 @item
1084 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1085 the exit code will be -1.
1086 @end itemize
1087
1088 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1089 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1090 interface.
1091
1092 @item -nowindows
1093 @itemx -nw
1094 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1095 @cindex @code{-nw}
1096 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1097 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1098 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1099
1100 @item -windows
1101 @itemx -w
1102 @cindex @code{--windows}
1103 @cindex @code{-w}
1104 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1105 used if possible.
1106
1107 @item -cd @var{directory}
1108 @cindex @code{--cd}
1109 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1110 instead of the current directory.
1111
1112 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1113 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1114 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1115 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1116 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1117
1118 @item -fullname
1119 @itemx -f
1120 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1121 @cindex @code{-f}
1122 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1123 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1124 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1125 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1126 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1127 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1128 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1129 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1130 frame.
1131
1132 @item -epoch
1133 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1134 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1135 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1136 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1137 separate window.
1138
1139 @item -annotate @var{level}
1140 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1141 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1142 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1143 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1144 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1145 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1146 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1147 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1148 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1149
1150 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1151 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1152
1153 @item --args
1154 @cindex @code{--args}
1155 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1156 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1157 This option stops option processing.
1158
1159 @item -baud @var{bps}
1160 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1161 @cindex @code{--baud}
1162 @cindex @code{-b}
1163 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1164 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1165
1166 @item -l @var{timeout}
1167 @cindex @code{-l}
1168 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1169 for remote debugging.
1170
1171 @item -tty @var{device}
1172 @itemx -t @var{device}
1173 @cindex @code{--tty}
1174 @cindex @code{-t}
1175 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1176 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1177
1178 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1179 @item -tui
1180 @cindex @code{--tui}
1181 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1182 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1183 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1184 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1185 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1186 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1187 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1188
1189 @c @item -xdb
1190 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1191 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1192 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1193 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1194 @c systems.
1195
1196 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1197 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1198 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1199 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1200 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1201 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1202
1203 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1204 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1205 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1206 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1207 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1208 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1209
1210 @item -write
1211 @cindex @code{--write}
1212 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1213 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1214 (@pxref{Patching}).
1215
1216 @item -statistics
1217 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1218 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1219 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1220
1221 @item -version
1222 @cindex @code{--version}
1223 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1224 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1225
1226 @end table
1227
1228 @node Startup
1229 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1230 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1231
1232 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1233
1234 @enumerate
1235 @item
1236 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1237 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1238
1239 @item
1240 @cindex init file
1241 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1242 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1243 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1244 that file.
1245
1246 @item
1247 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1248 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1249 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1250 that file.
1251
1252 @item
1253 Processes command line options and operands.
1254
1255 @item
1256 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1257 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1258 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1259 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1260 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1261 @value{GDBN}.
1262
1263 @item
1264 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1265 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1266 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1267 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1268
1269 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1270 you must do something like the following:
1271
1272 @smallexample
1273 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" -ex "file myprogram"
1274 @end smallexample
1275
1276 The following does not work because the auto-loading is turned off too late:
1277
1278 @smallexample
1279 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" myprogram
1280 @end smallexample
1281
1282 @item
1283 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1284 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1285
1286 @item
1287 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1288 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1289 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1290 @end enumerate
1291
1292 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1293 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1294 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1295 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1296 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1297 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1298
1299 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1300 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1301
1302 @cindex init file name
1303 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1304 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1305 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1306 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1307 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1308 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1309 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1310 the file to the standard name.
1311
1312
1313 @node Quitting GDB
1314 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1315 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1316 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1317
1318 @table @code
1319 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1320 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1321 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1322 @itemx q
1323 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1324 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1325 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1326 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1327 error code.
1328 @end table
1329
1330 @cindex interrupt
1331 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1332 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1333 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1334 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1335 until a time when it is safe.
1336
1337 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1338 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1339 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1340
1341 @node Shell Commands
1342 @section Shell Commands
1343
1344 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1345 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1346 just use the @code{shell} command.
1347
1348 @table @code
1349 @kindex shell
1350 @kindex !
1351 @cindex shell escape
1352 @item shell @var{command-string}
1353 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1354 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1355 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1356 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1357 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1358 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1359 @end table
1360
1361 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1362 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1363 @value{GDBN}:
1364
1365 @table @code
1366 @kindex make
1367 @cindex calling make
1368 @item make @var{make-args}
1369 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1370 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1371 @end table
1372
1373 @node Logging Output
1374 @section Logging Output
1375 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1376 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1377
1378 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1379 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1380
1381 @table @code
1382 @kindex set logging
1383 @item set logging on
1384 Enable logging.
1385 @item set logging off
1386 Disable logging.
1387 @cindex logging file name
1388 @item set logging file @var{file}
1389 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1390 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1391 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1392 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1393 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1394 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1395 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1396 @kindex show logging
1397 @item show logging
1398 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1399 @end table
1400
1401 @node Commands
1402 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1403
1404 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1405 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1406 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1407 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1408 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1409
1410 @menu
1411 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1412 * Completion:: Command completion
1413 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1414 @end menu
1415
1416 @node Command Syntax
1417 @section Command Syntax
1418
1419 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1420 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1421 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1422 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1423 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1424 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1425
1426 @cindex abbreviation
1427 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1428 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1429 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1430 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1431 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1432 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1433 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1434
1435 @cindex repeating commands
1436 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1437 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1438 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1439 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1440 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1441 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1442 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1443
1444 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1445 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1446 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1447
1448 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1449 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1450 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1451 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1452 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1453
1454 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1455 @cindex comment
1456 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1457 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1458 Files,,Command Files}).
1459
1460 @cindex repeating command sequences
1461 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1462 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1463 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1464 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1465 for editing.
1466
1467 @node Completion
1468 @section Command Completion
1469
1470 @cindex completion
1471 @cindex word completion
1472 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1473 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1474 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1475 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1476
1477 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1478 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1479 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1480 enter it). For example, if you type
1481
1482 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1483 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1484 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1485 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1486 @smallexample
1487 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1488 @end smallexample
1489
1490 @noindent
1491 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1492 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1493
1494 @smallexample
1495 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1496 @end smallexample
1497
1498 @noindent
1499 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1500 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1501 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1502 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1503 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1504 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1505
1506 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1507 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1508 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1509 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1510 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1511 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1512 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1513 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1514 example:
1515
1516 @smallexample
1517 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1518 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1519 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1520 make_abs_section make_function_type
1521 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1522 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1523 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1524 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1525 @end smallexample
1526
1527 @noindent
1528 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1529 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1530 command.
1531
1532 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1533 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1534 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1535 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1536 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1537
1538 @cindex quotes in commands
1539 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1540 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1541 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1542 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1543 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1544 @value{GDBN} commands.
1545
1546 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1547 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1548 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1549 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1550 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1551 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1552 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1553 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1554 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1555 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1556 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1557
1558 @smallexample
1559 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1560 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1561 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1562 @end smallexample
1563
1564 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1565 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1566 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1567 place:
1568
1569 @smallexample
1570 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1571 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1572 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1573 @end smallexample
1574
1575 @noindent
1576 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1577 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1578 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1579
1580 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1581 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1582 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1583 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1584
1585 @cindex completion of structure field names
1586 @cindex structure field name completion
1587 @cindex completion of union field names
1588 @cindex union field name completion
1589 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1590 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1591 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1592 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1593 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1594 left-hand-side:
1595
1596 @smallexample
1597 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1598 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1599 to_data to_isatty to_write
1600 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1601 to_flush to_read
1602 @end smallexample
1603
1604 @noindent
1605 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1606 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1607 follows:
1608
1609 @smallexample
1610 struct ui_file
1611 @{
1612 int *magic;
1613 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1614 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1615 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1616 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1617 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1618 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1619 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1620 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1621 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1622 void *to_data;
1623 @}
1624 @end smallexample
1625
1626
1627 @node Help
1628 @section Getting Help
1629 @cindex online documentation
1630 @kindex help
1631
1632 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1633 using the command @code{help}.
1634
1635 @table @code
1636 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1637 @item help
1638 @itemx h
1639 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1640 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1641
1642 @smallexample
1643 (@value{GDBP}) help
1644 List of classes of commands:
1645
1646 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1647 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1648 data -- Examining data
1649 files -- Specifying and examining files
1650 internals -- Maintenance commands
1651 obscure -- Obscure features
1652 running -- Running the program
1653 stack -- Examining the stack
1654 status -- Status inquiries
1655 support -- Support facilities
1656 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1657 stopping the program
1658 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1659
1660 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1661 commands in that class.
1662 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1663 documentation.
1664 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1665 (@value{GDBP})
1666 @end smallexample
1667 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1668
1669 @item help @var{class}
1670 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1671 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1672 help display for the class @code{status}:
1673
1674 @smallexample
1675 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1676 Status inquiries.
1677
1678 List of commands:
1679
1680 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1681 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1682 info -- Generic command for showing things
1683 about the program being debugged
1684 show -- Generic command for showing things
1685 about the debugger
1686
1687 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1688 documentation.
1689 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1690 (@value{GDBP})
1691 @end smallexample
1692
1693 @item help @var{command}
1694 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1695 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1696
1697 @kindex apropos
1698 @item apropos @var{args}
1699 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1700 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1701 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1702
1703 @smallexample
1704 apropos reload
1705 @end smallexample
1706
1707 @noindent
1708 results in:
1709
1710 @smallexample
1711 @c @group
1712 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1713 multiple times in one run
1714 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1715 multiple times in one run
1716 @c @end group
1717 @end smallexample
1718
1719 @kindex complete
1720 @item complete @var{args}
1721 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1722 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1723 command you want completed. For example:
1724
1725 @smallexample
1726 complete i
1727 @end smallexample
1728
1729 @noindent results in:
1730
1731 @smallexample
1732 @group
1733 if
1734 ignore
1735 info
1736 inspect
1737 @end group
1738 @end smallexample
1739
1740 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1741 @end table
1742
1743 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1744 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1745 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1746 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1747 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1748 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1749
1750 @c @group
1751 @table @code
1752 @kindex info
1753 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1754 @item info
1755 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1756 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1757 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1758 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1759 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1760 @w{@code{help info}}.
1761
1762 @kindex set
1763 @item set
1764 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1765 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1766 @code{set prompt $}.
1767
1768 @kindex show
1769 @item show
1770 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1771 @value{GDBN} itself.
1772 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1773 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1774 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1775 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1776
1777 @kindex info set
1778 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1779 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1780 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1781 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1782 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1783 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1784 @end table
1785 @c @end group
1786
1787 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1788 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1789
1790 @table @code
1791 @kindex show version
1792 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1793 @item show version
1794 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1795 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1796 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1797 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1798 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1799 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1800 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1801 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1802 @value{GDBN}.
1803
1804 @kindex show copying
1805 @kindex info copying
1806 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1807 @item show copying
1808 @itemx info copying
1809 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1810
1811 @kindex show warranty
1812 @kindex info warranty
1813 @item show warranty
1814 @itemx info warranty
1815 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1816 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1817
1818 @end table
1819
1820 @node Running
1821 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1822
1823 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1824 debugging information when you compile it.
1825
1826 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1827 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1828 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1829 kill a child process.
1830
1831 @menu
1832 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1833 * Starting:: Starting your program
1834 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1835 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1836
1837 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1838 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1839 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1840 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1841
1842 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1843 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1844 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1845 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1846 @end menu
1847
1848 @node Compilation
1849 @section Compiling for Debugging
1850
1851 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1852 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1853 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1854 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1855 and addresses in the executable code.
1856
1857 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1858 the compiler.
1859
1860 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1861 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1862 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1863 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1864 executables containing debugging information.
1865
1866 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1867 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1868 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1869 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1870 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1871
1872 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1873 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1874 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1875
1876 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1877 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1878 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1879 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1880 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1881 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1882
1883 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1884 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1885 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1886
1887 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1888 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1889 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1890 format in @value{GDBN}.
1891
1892 @need 2000
1893 @node Starting
1894 @section Starting your Program
1895 @cindex starting
1896 @cindex running
1897
1898 @table @code
1899 @kindex run
1900 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1901 @item run
1902 @itemx r
1903 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1904 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1905 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1906 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1907 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1908
1909 @end table
1910
1911 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1912 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1913 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1914 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1915 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1916 message like this one:
1917
1918 @smallexample
1919 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1920 Try "help target" or "continue".
1921 @end smallexample
1922
1923 @noindent
1924 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1925 first (@pxref{load}).
1926
1927 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1928 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1929 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1930 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1931 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1932 divided into four categories:
1933
1934 @table @asis
1935 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1936 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1937 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1938 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1939 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1940 the arguments.
1941 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1942 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1943 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1944
1945 @item The @emph{environment.}
1946 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1947 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1948 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1949 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1950
1951 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1952 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1953 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1954 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1955
1956 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1957 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1958 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1959 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1960 set a different device for your program.
1961 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1962
1963 @cindex pipes
1964 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1965 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1966 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1967 wrong program.
1968 @end table
1969
1970 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1971 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1972 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1973 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1974 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1975
1976 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1977 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1978 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1979 your current breakpoints.
1980
1981 @table @code
1982 @kindex start
1983 @item start
1984 @cindex run to main procedure
1985 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1986 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1987 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1988 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1989 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1990 procedure, depending on the language used.
1991
1992 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1993 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1994 the @samp{run} command.
1995
1996 @cindex elaboration phase
1997 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1998 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1999 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2000 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2001 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2002 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2003 will remain to halt execution.
2004
2005 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2006 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2007 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2008 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2009 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2010
2011 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2012 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2013 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2014 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2015 elaboration code before running your program.
2016
2017 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2018 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2019 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2020 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2021 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2022 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2023 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2024 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2025 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2026 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2027 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2028
2029 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2030 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2031 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2032 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2033
2034 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2035 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2036 environment:
2037
2038 @smallexample
2039 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2040 (@value{GDBP}) run
2041 @end smallexample
2042
2043 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2044 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2045
2046 @kindex set disable-randomization
2047 @item set disable-randomization
2048 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2049 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2050 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2051 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2052 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2053
2054 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2055 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2056
2057 @smallexample
2058 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2059 @end smallexample
2060
2061 @item set disable-randomization off
2062 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2063 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2064 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2065 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2066 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2067 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2068
2069 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2070 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2071 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2072 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2073 a code at its expected addresses.
2074
2075 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2076 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2077 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2078 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2079 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2080 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2081 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2082 a randomly chosen address.
2083
2084 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2085 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2086 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2087 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2088 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2089
2090 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2091 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2092
2093 @item show disable-randomization
2094 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2095 the virtual address space of the started program.
2096
2097 @end table
2098
2099 @node Arguments
2100 @section Your Program's Arguments
2101
2102 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2103 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2104 @code{run} command.
2105 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2106 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2107 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2108 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2109 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2110
2111 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2112 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2113 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2114 the program, not by the shell.
2115
2116 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2117 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2118
2119 @table @code
2120 @kindex set args
2121 @item set args
2122 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2123 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2124 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2125 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2126 it again without arguments.
2127
2128 @kindex show args
2129 @item show args
2130 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2131 @end table
2132
2133 @node Environment
2134 @section Your Program's Environment
2135
2136 @cindex environment (of your program)
2137 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2138 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2139 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2140 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2141 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2142 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2143 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2144
2145 @table @code
2146 @kindex path
2147 @item path @var{directory}
2148 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2149 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2150 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2151 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2152 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2153 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2154 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2155
2156 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2157 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2158 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2159 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2160 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2161 @var{directory} to the search path.
2162 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2163 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2164
2165 @kindex show paths
2166 @item show paths
2167 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2168 environment variable).
2169
2170 @kindex show environment
2171 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2172 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2173 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2174 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2175 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2176
2177 @kindex set environment
2178 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2179 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2180 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2181 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2182 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2183 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2184 null value.
2185 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2186 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2187
2188 For example, this command:
2189
2190 @smallexample
2191 set env USER = foo
2192 @end smallexample
2193
2194 @noindent
2195 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2196 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2197 are not actually required.)
2198
2199 @kindex unset environment
2200 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2201 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2202 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2203 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2204 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2205 @end table
2206
2207 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2208 the shell indicated
2209 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2210 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2211 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2212 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2213 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2214 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2215 @file{.profile}.
2216
2217 @node Working Directory
2218 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2219
2220 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2221 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2222 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2223 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2224 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2225 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2226
2227 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2228 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2229 Specify Files}.
2230
2231 @table @code
2232 @kindex cd
2233 @cindex change working directory
2234 @item cd @var{directory}
2235 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2236
2237 @kindex pwd
2238 @item pwd
2239 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2240 @end table
2241
2242 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2243 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2244 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2245 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2246 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2247 current working directory of the debuggee.
2248
2249 @node Input/Output
2250 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2251
2252 @cindex redirection
2253 @cindex i/o
2254 @cindex terminal
2255 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2256 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2257 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2258 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2259 running your program.
2260
2261 @table @code
2262 @kindex info terminal
2263 @item info terminal
2264 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2265 program is using.
2266 @end table
2267
2268 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2269 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2270
2271 @smallexample
2272 run > outfile
2273 @end smallexample
2274
2275 @noindent
2276 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2277
2278 @kindex tty
2279 @cindex controlling terminal
2280 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2281 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2282 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2283 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2284 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2285
2286 @smallexample
2287 tty /dev/ttyb
2288 @end smallexample
2289
2290 @noindent
2291 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2292 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2293 that as their controlling terminal.
2294
2295 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2296 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2297 terminal.
2298
2299 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2300 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2301 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2302 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2303
2304 @cindex inferior tty
2305 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2306 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2307 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2308 program.
2309
2310 @table @code
2311 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2312 @kindex set inferior-tty
2313 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2314
2315 @item show inferior-tty
2316 @kindex show inferior-tty
2317 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2318 @end table
2319
2320 @node Attach
2321 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2322 @kindex attach
2323 @cindex attach
2324
2325 @table @code
2326 @item attach @var{process-id}
2327 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2328 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2329 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2330 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2331 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2332
2333 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2334 executing the command.
2335 @end table
2336
2337 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2338 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2339 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2340 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2341
2342 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2343 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2344 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2345 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2346 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2347 Specify Files}.
2348
2349 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2350 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2351 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2352 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2353 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2354 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2355 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2356
2357 @table @code
2358 @kindex detach
2359 @item detach
2360 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2361 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2362 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2363 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2364 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2365 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2366 executing the command.
2367 @end table
2368
2369 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2370 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2371 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2372 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2373 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2374 Messages}).
2375
2376 @node Kill Process
2377 @section Killing the Child Process
2378
2379 @table @code
2380 @kindex kill
2381 @item kill
2382 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2383 @end table
2384
2385 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2386 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2387 is running.
2388
2389 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2390 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2391 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2392 outside the debugger.
2393
2394 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2395 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2396 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2397 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2398 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2399 breakpoint settings).
2400
2401 @node Inferiors and Programs
2402 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2403
2404 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2405 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2406 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2407 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2408 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2409 from multiple executables.
2410
2411 @cindex inferior
2412 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2413 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2414 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2415 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2416 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2417 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2418 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2419 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2420 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2421 threads running in it.
2422
2423 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2424 inferiors}}:
2425
2426 @table @code
2427 @kindex info inferiors
2428 @item info inferiors
2429 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2430
2431 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2432
2433 @enumerate
2434 @item
2435 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2436
2437 @item
2438 the target system's inferior identifier
2439
2440 @item
2441 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2442
2443 @end enumerate
2444
2445 @noindent
2446 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2447 indicates the current inferior.
2448
2449 For example,
2450 @end table
2451 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2452
2453 @smallexample
2454 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2455 Num Description Executable
2456 2 process 2307 hello
2457 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2458 @end smallexample
2459
2460 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2461
2462 @table @code
2463 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2464 @item inferior @var{infno}
2465 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2466 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2467 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2468 @end table
2469
2470
2471 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2472 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2473 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2474 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2475 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2476 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2477
2478 @table @code
2479 @kindex add-inferior
2480 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2481 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2482 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2483 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2484 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2485 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2486
2487 @kindex clone-inferior
2488 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2489 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2490 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2491 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2492 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2493
2494 @smallexample
2495 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2496 Num Description Executable
2497 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2498 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2499 Added inferior 2.
2500 1 inferiors added.
2501 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2502 Num Description Executable
2503 2 <null> helloworld
2504 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2505 @end smallexample
2506
2507 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2508
2509 @kindex remove-inferiors
2510 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2511 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2512 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2513 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2514
2515 @end table
2516
2517 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2518 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2519 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2520 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2521
2522 @table @code
2523 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2524 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2525 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2526 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2527 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2528 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2529
2530 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2531 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2532 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2533 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2534 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2535 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2536 @end table
2537
2538 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2539 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2540 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2541 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2542
2543
2544 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2545 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2546
2547 @table @code
2548 @kindex set print inferior-events
2549 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2550 @item set print inferior-events
2551 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2552 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2553 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2554 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2555 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2556 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2557
2558 @kindex show print inferior-events
2559 @item show print inferior-events
2560 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2561 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2562 @end table
2563
2564 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2565 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2566 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2567
2568
2569 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2570 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2571 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2572 info program-spaces}} command.
2573
2574 @table @code
2575 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2576 @item maint info program-spaces
2577 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2578 @value{GDBN}.
2579
2580 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2581
2582 @enumerate
2583 @item
2584 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2585
2586 @item
2587 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2588 the @code{file} command.
2589
2590 @end enumerate
2591
2592 @noindent
2593 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2594 indicates the current program space.
2595
2596 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2597 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2598 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2599
2600 @smallexample
2601 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2602 Id Executable
2603 2 goodbye
2604 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2605 * 1 hello
2606 @end smallexample
2607
2608 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2609 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2610 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2611 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2612 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2613
2614 @smallexample
2615 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2616 Id Executable
2617 * 1 vfork-test
2618 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2619 @end smallexample
2620
2621 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2622 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2623 @end table
2624
2625 @node Threads
2626 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2627
2628 @cindex threads of execution
2629 @cindex multiple threads
2630 @cindex switching threads
2631 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2632 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2633 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2634 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2635 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2636 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2637 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2638
2639 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2640 programs:
2641
2642 @itemize @bullet
2643 @item automatic notification of new threads
2644 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2645 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2646 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2647 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2648 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2649 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2650 messages on thread start and exit.
2651 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2652 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2653 isn't compatible with the program.
2654 @end itemize
2655
2656 @quotation
2657 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2658 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2659 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2660 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2661 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2662 like this:
2663
2664 @smallexample
2665 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2666 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2667 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2668 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2669 @end smallexample
2670 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2671 @c doesn't support threads"?
2672 @end quotation
2673
2674 @cindex focus of debugging
2675 @cindex current thread
2676 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2677 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2678 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2679 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2680 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2681
2682 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2683 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2684 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2685 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2686 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2687 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2688 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2689 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2690 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2691 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2692
2693 @smallexample
2694 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2695 @end smallexample
2696
2697 @noindent
2698 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2699 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2700 further qualifier.
2701
2702 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2703 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2704 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2705 @c program?
2706 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2707 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2708 @c threads ab initio?
2709
2710 @cindex thread number
2711 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2712 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2713 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2714
2715 @table @code
2716 @kindex info threads
2717 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2718 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2719 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2720 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2721 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2722
2723 @enumerate
2724 @item
2725 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2726
2727 @item
2728 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2729
2730 @item
2731 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2732 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2733 program itself.
2734
2735 @item
2736 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2737 @end enumerate
2738
2739 @noindent
2740 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2741 indicates the current thread.
2742
2743 For example,
2744 @end table
2745 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2746
2747 @smallexample
2748 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2749 Id Target Id Frame
2750 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2751 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2752 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2753 at threadtest.c:68
2754 @end smallexample
2755
2756 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2757 Solaris-specific command:
2758
2759 @table @code
2760 @item maint info sol-threads
2761 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2762 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2763 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2764 @end table
2765
2766 @table @code
2767 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2768 @item thread @var{threadno}
2769 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2770 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2771 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2772 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2773 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2774
2775 @smallexample
2776 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2777 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2778 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2779 8 printf ("hello\n");
2780 @end smallexample
2781
2782 @noindent
2783 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2784 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2785 threads.
2786
2787 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2788 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2789 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2790 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2791 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2792 information on convenience variables.
2793
2794 @kindex thread apply
2795 @cindex apply command to several threads
2796 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2797 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2798 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2799 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2800 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2801 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2802 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2803 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2804
2805 @kindex thread name
2806 @cindex name a thread
2807 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2808 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2809 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2810 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2811
2812 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2813 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2814 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2815 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2816 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2817
2818 @kindex thread find
2819 @cindex search for a thread
2820 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2821 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2822 matches the supplied regular expression.
2823
2824 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2825 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2826 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2827 is the LWP id.
2828
2829 @smallexample
2830 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2831 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2832 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2833 Id Target Id Frame
2834 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2835 @end smallexample
2836
2837 @kindex set print thread-events
2838 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2839 @item set print thread-events
2840 @itemx set print thread-events on
2841 @itemx set print thread-events off
2842 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2843 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2844 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2845 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2846 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2847
2848 @kindex show print thread-events
2849 @item show print thread-events
2850 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2851 have started and exited.
2852 @end table
2853
2854 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2855 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2856 programs with multiple threads.
2857
2858 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2859 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2860
2861 @table @code
2862 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2863 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2864 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2865 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2866 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2867 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2868 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2869 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2870 macro.
2871
2872 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2873 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2874 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2875 to find @code{libthread_db}.
2876
2877 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2878 refers to the default system directories that are
2879 normally searched for loading shared libraries.
2880
2881 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2882 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2883 was loaded in the inferior process.
2884
2885 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2886 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2887 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2888 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2889 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2890 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2891 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2892
2893 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2894 only on some platforms.
2895
2896 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2897 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2898 Display current libthread_db search path.
2899
2900 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2901 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2902 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2903 @item set debug libthread-db
2904 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2905 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2906 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2907 @end table
2908
2909 @node Forks
2910 @section Debugging Forks
2911
2912 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2913 @cindex multiple processes
2914 @cindex processes, multiple
2915 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2916 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2917 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2918 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2919 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2920 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2921 will cause it to terminate.
2922
2923 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2924 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2925 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2926 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2927 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2928 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2929 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2930 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2931 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2932 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2933
2934 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2935 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2936 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2937 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2938
2939 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2940 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2941
2942 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2943 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2944
2945 @table @code
2946 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2947 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2948 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2949 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2950 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2951
2952 @table @code
2953 @item parent
2954 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2955 unimpeded. This is the default.
2956
2957 @item child
2958 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2959 unimpeded.
2960
2961 @end table
2962
2963 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2964 @item show follow-fork-mode
2965 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2966 @end table
2967
2968 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2969 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2970 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2971
2972 @table @code
2973 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2974 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2975 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2976 retain debugger control over them both.
2977
2978 @table @code
2979 @item on
2980 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2981 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2982 independently. This is the default.
2983
2984 @item off
2985 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2986 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2987 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2988 is held suspended.
2989
2990 @end table
2991
2992 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2993 @item show detach-on-fork
2994 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2995 @end table
2996
2997 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2998 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2999 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3000 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3001 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3002 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3003
3004 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3005 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3006 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3007 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3008 and Programs}.
3009
3010 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3011 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3012 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3013 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3014 the child process's @code{main}.
3015
3016 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3017 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3018
3019 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3020 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3021 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3022 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3023 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3024 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3025 command.
3026
3027 @table @code
3028 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3029 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3030
3031 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3032 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3033
3034 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3035
3036 @table @code
3037 @item new
3038 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3039 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3040 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3041 original inferior.
3042
3043 For example:
3044
3045 @smallexample
3046 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3047 (gdb) info inferior
3048 Id Description Executable
3049 * 1 <null> prog1
3050 (@value{GDBP}) run
3051 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3052 Program exited normally.
3053 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3054 Id Description Executable
3055 * 2 <null> prog2
3056 1 <null> prog1
3057 @end smallexample
3058
3059 @item same
3060 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3061 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3062 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3063 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3064 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3065
3066 For example:
3067
3068 @smallexample
3069 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3070 Id Description Executable
3071 * 1 <null> prog1
3072 (@value{GDBP}) run
3073 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3074 Program exited normally.
3075 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3076 Id Description Executable
3077 * 1 <null> prog2
3078 @end smallexample
3079
3080 @end table
3081 @end table
3082
3083 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3084 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3085 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3086
3087 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3088 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3089
3090 @cindex checkpoint
3091 @cindex restart
3092 @cindex bookmark
3093 @cindex snapshot of a process
3094 @cindex rewind program state
3095
3096 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3097 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3098 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3099 later.
3100
3101 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3102 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3103 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3104 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3105 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3106
3107 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3108 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3109 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3110 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3111 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3112 start again from there.
3113
3114 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3115 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3116
3117 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3118
3119 @table @code
3120 @kindex checkpoint
3121 @item checkpoint
3122 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3123 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3124 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3125
3126 @kindex info checkpoints
3127 @item info checkpoints
3128 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3129 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3130 listed:
3131
3132 @table @code
3133 @item Checkpoint ID
3134 @item Process ID
3135 @item Code Address
3136 @item Source line, or label
3137 @end table
3138
3139 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3140 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3141 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3142 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3143 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3144 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3145 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3146
3147 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3148 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3149 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3150 the debugger.
3151
3152 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3153 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3154 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3155
3156 @end table
3157
3158 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3159 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3160 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3161 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3162 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3163 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3164 previously read data can be read again.
3165
3166 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3167 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3168 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3169 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3170 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3171 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3172
3173 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3174 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3175 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3176 different execution path this time.
3177
3178 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3179 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3180 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3181 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3182 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3183 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3184 potentially pose a problem.
3185
3186 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3187
3188 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3189 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3190 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3191 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3192 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3193 next.
3194
3195 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3196 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3197 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3198 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3199 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3200
3201 @node Stopping
3202 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3203
3204 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3205 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3206 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3207
3208 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3209 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3210 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3211 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3212 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3213 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3214 explicitly request this information at any time.
3215
3216 @table @code
3217 @kindex info program
3218 @item info program
3219 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3220 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3221 @end table
3222
3223 @menu
3224 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3225 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3226 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3227 Skipping over functions and files
3228 * Signals:: Signals
3229 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3230 @end menu
3231
3232 @node Breakpoints
3233 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3234
3235 @cindex breakpoints
3236 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3237 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3238 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3239 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3240 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3241 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3242 program.
3243
3244 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3245 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3246 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3247 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3248 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3249 call).
3250
3251 @cindex watchpoints
3252 @cindex data breakpoints
3253 @cindex memory tracing
3254 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3255 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3256 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3257 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3258 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3259 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3260 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3261 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3262 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3263 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3264 same commands.
3265
3266 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3267 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3268 Automatic Display}.
3269
3270 @cindex catchpoints
3271 @cindex breakpoint on events
3272 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3273 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3274 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3275 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3276 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3277 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3278 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3279
3280 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3281 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3282 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3283 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3284 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3285 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3286 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3287 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3288 enable it again.
3289
3290 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3291 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3292 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3293 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3294 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3295 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3296 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3297
3298 @menu
3299 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3300 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3301 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3302 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3303 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3304 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3305 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3306 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3307 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3308 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3309 @end menu
3310
3311 @node Set Breaks
3312 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3313
3314 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3315 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3316 @c
3317 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3318
3319 @kindex break
3320 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3321 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3322 @cindex latest breakpoint
3323 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3324 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3325 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3326 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3327 convenience variables.
3328
3329 @table @code
3330 @item break @var{location}
3331 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3332 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3333 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3334 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3335 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3336
3337 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3338 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3339 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3340 that situation.
3341
3342 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3343 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3344 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3345
3346 @item break
3347 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3348 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3349 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3350 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3351 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3352 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3353 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3354 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3355 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3356 inside loops.
3357
3358 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3359 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3360 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3361 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3362 existed when your program stopped.
3363
3364 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3365 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3366 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3367 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3368 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3369 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3370 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3371
3372 @kindex tbreak
3373 @item tbreak @var{args}
3374 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3375 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3376 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3377 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3378
3379 @kindex hbreak
3380 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3381 @item hbreak @var{args}
3382 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3383 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3384 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3385 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3386 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3387 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3388 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3389 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3390 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3391 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3392 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3393 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3394 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3395 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3396 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3397 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3398 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3399 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3400
3401 @kindex thbreak
3402 @item thbreak @var{args}
3403 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3404 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3405 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3406 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3407 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3408 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3409 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3410 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3411
3412 @kindex rbreak
3413 @cindex regular expression
3414 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3415 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3416 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3417 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3418 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3419 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3420 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3421 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3422 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3423
3424 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3425 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3426 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3427 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3428 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3429 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3430
3431 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3432 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3433 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3434 classes.
3435
3436 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3437 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3438 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3439
3440 @smallexample
3441 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3442 @end smallexample
3443
3444 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3445 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3446 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3447 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3448 every function in a given file:
3449
3450 @smallexample
3451 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3452 @end smallexample
3453
3454 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3455 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3456
3457 @kindex info breakpoints
3458 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3459 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3460 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3461 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3462 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3463 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3464 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3465
3466 @table @emph
3467 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3468 @item Type
3469 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3470 @item Disposition
3471 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3472 @item Enabled or Disabled
3473 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3474 that are not enabled.
3475 @item Address
3476 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3477 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3478 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3479 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3480 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3481 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3482 @item What
3483 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3484 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3485 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3486 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3487 @end table
3488
3489 @noindent
3490 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3491 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3492 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3493 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3494 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3495 valid location.
3496
3497 @noindent
3498 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3499 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3500 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3501 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3502 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3503
3504 @noindent
3505 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3506 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3507 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3508 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3509 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3510 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3511 @end table
3512
3513 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3514 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3515 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3516 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3517
3518 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3519 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3520 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3521 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3522
3523 @itemize @bullet
3524 @item
3525 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3526 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3527
3528 @item
3529 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3530 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3531
3532 @item
3533 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3534 several places where that function is inlined.
3535 @end itemize
3536
3537 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3538 the relevant locations@footnote{
3539 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3540 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3541 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3542 info with line numbers for them.}.
3543
3544 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3545 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3546 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3547 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3548 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3549 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3550 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3551
3552 For example:
3553
3554 @smallexample
3555 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3556 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3557 stop only if i==1
3558 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3559 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3560 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3561 @end smallexample
3562
3563 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3564 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3565 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3566 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3567 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3568 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3569 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3570 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3571 that belong to that breakpoint.
3572
3573 @cindex pending breakpoints
3574 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3575 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3576 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3577 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3578 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3579 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3580 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3581 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3582 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3583 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3584 is not yet resolved.
3585
3586 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3587 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3588 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3589 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3590 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3591 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3592
3593 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3594 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3595 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3596 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3597
3598 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3599 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3600 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3601
3602 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3603 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3604 address specification to an address:
3605
3606 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3607 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3608 @table @code
3609 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3610 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3611 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3612
3613 @item set breakpoint pending on
3614 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3615 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3616
3617 @item set breakpoint pending off
3618 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3619 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3620 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3621
3622 @item show breakpoint pending
3623 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3624 @end table
3625
3626 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3627 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3628 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3629
3630 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3631 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3632 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3633 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3634 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3635 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3636 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3637 breakpoints.
3638
3639 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3640
3641 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3642 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3643 @table @code
3644 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3645 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3646 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3647 breakpoint must be used.
3648
3649 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3650 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3651 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3652 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3653 @end table
3654
3655 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3656 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3657 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3658 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3659 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3660 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3661 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3662 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3663 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3664
3665 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3666 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3667 @table @code
3668 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3669 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3670 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3671 removed from the target when it stops.
3672
3673 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3674 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3675 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3676 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3677 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3678
3679 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3680 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3681 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3682 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3683 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3684 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3685 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3686 @end table
3687
3688 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3689 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3690 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3691 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3692 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3693 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3694 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3695 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3696
3697
3698 @node Set Watchpoints
3699 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3700
3701 @cindex setting watchpoints
3702 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3703 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3704 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3705 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3706 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3707
3708 @itemize @bullet
3709 @item
3710 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3711
3712 @item
3713 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3714 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3715 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3716
3717 @item
3718 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3719 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3720 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3721 @end itemize
3722
3723 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3724 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3725 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3726 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3727 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3728 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3729 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3730 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3731 the expression changes.
3732
3733 @cindex software watchpoints
3734 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3735 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3736 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3737 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3738 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3739 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3740 culprit.)
3741
3742 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3743 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3744 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3745
3746 @table @code
3747 @kindex watch
3748 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3749 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3750 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3751 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3752 to watch the value of a single variable:
3753
3754 @smallexample
3755 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3756 @end smallexample
3757
3758 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3759 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3760 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3761 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3762 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3763 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3764
3765 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3766 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3767 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3768 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3769 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3770 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3771 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3772 error.
3773
3774 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3775 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3776 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3777 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3778 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3779 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3780 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3781 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3782 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3783 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3784 Examples:
3785
3786 @smallexample
3787 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3788 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3789 @end smallexample
3790
3791 @kindex rwatch
3792 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3793 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3794 by the program.
3795
3796 @kindex awatch
3797 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3798 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3799 or written into by the program.
3800
3801 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3802 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3803 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3804 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3805 @end table
3806
3807 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3808 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3809 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3810 a never-changing value:
3811
3812 @smallexample
3813 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3814 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3815 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3816 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3817 @end smallexample
3818
3819 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3820 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3821 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3822 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3823 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3824 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3825
3826 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3827 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3828 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3829 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3830 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3831 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3832 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3833 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3834
3835 @table @code
3836 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3837 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3838 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3839
3840 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3841 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3842 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3843 @end table
3844
3845 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3846 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3847 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3848
3849 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3850
3851 @smallexample
3852 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3853 @end smallexample
3854
3855 @noindent
3856 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3857
3858 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3859 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3860 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3861 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3862 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3863 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3864 will print a message like this:
3865
3866 @smallexample
3867 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3868 @end smallexample
3869
3870 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3871 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3872 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3873 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3874 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3875 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3876 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3877 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3878
3879 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3880 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3881 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3882 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3883 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3884 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3885
3886 @smallexample
3887 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3888 @end smallexample
3889
3890 @noindent
3891 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3892
3893 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3894 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3895 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3896 expression with separately allocated resources.
3897
3898 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3899 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3900 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3901
3902 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3903 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3904 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3905 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3906 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3907 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3908 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3909 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3910 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3911
3912 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3913 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3914 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3915 watched expression from every thread.
3916
3917 @quotation
3918 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3919 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3920 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3921 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3922 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3923 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3924 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3925 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3926 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3927 @end quotation
3928
3929 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3930
3931 @node Set Catchpoints
3932 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3933 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3934 @cindex exception handlers
3935 @cindex event handling
3936
3937 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3938 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3939 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3940
3941 @table @code
3942 @kindex catch
3943 @item catch @var{event}
3944 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3945 @table @code
3946 @item throw
3947 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3948 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3949
3950 @item catch
3951 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3952
3953 @item exception
3954 @cindex Ada exception catching
3955 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3956 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3957 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3958 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3959 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3960
3961 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3962 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3963 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3964 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3965 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3966 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3967 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3968 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3969
3970 @item exception unhandled
3971 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3972
3973 @item assert
3974 A failed Ada assertion.
3975
3976 @item exec
3977 @cindex break on fork/exec
3978 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3979 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3980
3981 @item syscall
3982 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3983 @cindex break on a system call.
3984 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3985 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3986 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3987 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3988 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3989 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3990 will be caught.
3991
3992 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3993 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3994 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3995 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3996
3997 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3998 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3999 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4000 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4001
4002 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4003 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4004 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4005 available choices.
4006
4007 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4008 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4009 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4010 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4011 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4012 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4013 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4014 behind the OS upgrades).
4015
4016 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4017 arguments to it:
4018
4019 @smallexample
4020 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4021 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4022 (@value{GDBP}) r
4023 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4024
4025 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4026 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4027 (@value{GDBP}) c
4028 Continuing.
4029
4030 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4031 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4032 (@value{GDBP})
4033 @end smallexample
4034
4035 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4036
4037 @smallexample
4038 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4039 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4040 (@value{GDBP}) r
4041 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4042
4043 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4044 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4045 (@value{GDBP}) c
4046 Continuing.
4047
4048 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4049 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4050 (@value{GDBP})
4051 @end smallexample
4052
4053 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4054 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4055 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4056
4057 @smallexample
4058 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4059 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4060 (@value{GDBP}) r
4061 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4062
4063 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4064 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4065 (@value{GDBP}) c
4066 Continuing.
4067
4068 Program exited normally.
4069 (@value{GDBP})
4070 @end smallexample
4071
4072 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4073 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4074 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4075 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4076
4077 @smallexample
4078 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4079 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4080 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4081 (@value{GDBP})
4082 @end smallexample
4083
4084 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4085 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4086 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4087 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4088 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4089 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4090
4091 @smallexample
4092 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4093 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4094 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4095 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4096 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4097 (@value{GDBP})
4098 @end smallexample
4099
4100 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4101
4102 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4103 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4104
4105 @smallexample
4106 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4107 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4108 @end smallexample
4109
4110 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4111
4112 @item fork
4113 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4114 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4115
4116 @item vfork
4117 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4118 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4119
4120 @end table
4121
4122 @item tcatch @var{event}
4123 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4124 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4125
4126 @end table
4127
4128 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4129
4130 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4131 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4132
4133 @itemize @bullet
4134 @item
4135 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4136 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4137 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4138 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4139 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4140 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4141 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4142 disabled within interactive calls.
4143
4144 @item
4145 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4146
4147 @item
4148 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4149 @end itemize
4150
4151 @cindex raise exceptions
4152 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4153 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4154 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4155 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4156 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4157 out where the exception was raised.
4158
4159 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4160 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4161 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4162 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4163
4164 @smallexample
4165 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4166 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4167 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4168 @end smallexample
4169
4170 @noindent
4171 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4172 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4173 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4174
4175 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4176 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4177 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4178 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4179 raised.
4180
4181
4182 @node Delete Breaks
4183 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4184
4185 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4186 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4187 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4188 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4189 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4190 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4191
4192 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4193 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4194 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4195 their breakpoint numbers.
4196
4197 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4198 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4199 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4200
4201 @table @code
4202 @kindex clear
4203 @item clear
4204 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4205 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4206 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4207 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4208
4209 @item clear @var{location}
4210 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4211 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4212 most useful ones are listed below:
4213
4214 @table @code
4215 @item clear @var{function}
4216 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4217 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4218
4219 @item clear @var{linenum}
4220 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4221 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4222 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4223 @end table
4224
4225 @cindex delete breakpoints
4226 @kindex delete
4227 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4228 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4229 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4230 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4231 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4232 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4233 @end table
4234
4235 @node Disabling
4236 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4237
4238 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4239 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4240 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4241 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4242 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4243
4244 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4245 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4246 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4247 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4248 do not know which numbers to use.
4249
4250 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4251 affects all of its locations.
4252
4253 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4254 states of enablement:
4255
4256 @itemize @bullet
4257 @item
4258 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4259 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4260 @item
4261 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4262 @item
4263 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4264 disabled.
4265 @item
4266 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4267 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4268 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4269 @end itemize
4270
4271 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4272 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4273
4274 @table @code
4275 @kindex disable
4276 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4277 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4278 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4279 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4280 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4281 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4282 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4283
4284 @kindex enable
4285 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4286 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4287 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4288
4289 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4290 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4291 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4292
4293 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4294 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4295 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4296 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4297 @end table
4298
4299 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4300 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4301 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4302 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4303 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4304 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4305 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4306 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4307 Stepping}.)
4308
4309 @node Conditions
4310 @subsection Break Conditions
4311 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4312 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4313
4314 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4315 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4316 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4317 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4318 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4319 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4320 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4321 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4322
4323 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4324 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4325 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4326 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4327 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4328
4329 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4330 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4331 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4332 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4333 one.
4334
4335 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4336 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4337 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4338 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4339 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4340 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4341 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4342 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4343 conditions for the
4344 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4345 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4346
4347 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4348 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4349 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4350 with the @code{condition} command.
4351
4352 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4353 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4354 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4355 catchpoint.
4356
4357 @table @code
4358 @kindex condition
4359 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4360 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4361 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4362 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4363 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4364 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4365 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4366 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4367 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4368 prints an error message:
4369
4370 @smallexample
4371 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4372 @end smallexample
4373
4374 @noindent
4375 @value{GDBN} does
4376 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4377 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4378 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4379
4380 @item condition @var{bnum}
4381 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4382 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4383 @end table
4384
4385 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4386 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4387 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4388 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4389 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4390 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4391 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4392 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4393 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4394 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4395 your program reaches it.
4396
4397 @table @code
4398 @kindex ignore
4399 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4400 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4401 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4402 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4403 takes no action.
4404
4405 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4406 a count of zero.
4407
4408 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4409 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4410 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4411 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4412
4413 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4414 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4415 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4416
4417 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4418 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4419 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4420 Variables}.
4421 @end table
4422
4423 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4424
4425
4426 @node Break Commands
4427 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4428
4429 @cindex breakpoint commands
4430 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4431 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4432 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4433 enable other breakpoints.
4434
4435 @table @code
4436 @kindex commands
4437 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4438 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4439 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4440 @itemx end
4441 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4442 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4443 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4444
4445 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4446 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4447
4448 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4449 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4450 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4451 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4452 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4453 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4454 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4455 Expressions}).
4456 @end table
4457
4458 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4459 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4460
4461 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4462 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4463 that resumes execution.
4464
4465 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4466 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4467 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4468 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4469 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4470
4471 @kindex silent
4472 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4473 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4474 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4475 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4476 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4477 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4478
4479 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4480 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4481 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4482
4483 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4484 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4485
4486 @smallexample
4487 break foo if x>0
4488 commands
4489 silent
4490 printf "x is %d\n",x
4491 cont
4492 end
4493 @end smallexample
4494
4495 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4496 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4497 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4498 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4499 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4500 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4501 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4502
4503 @smallexample
4504 break 403
4505 commands
4506 silent
4507 set x = y + 4
4508 cont
4509 end
4510 @end smallexample
4511
4512 @node Save Breakpoints
4513 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4514
4515 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4516 breakpoints}} command.
4517
4518 @table @code
4519 @kindex save breakpoints
4520 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4521 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4522 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4523 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4524 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4525 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4526 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4527 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4528 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4529 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4530 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4531 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4532 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4533 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4534 that can no longer be recreated.
4535 @end table
4536
4537 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4538 @node Error in Breakpoints
4539 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4540
4541 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4542 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4543
4544 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4545 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4546 @smallexample
4547 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4548 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4549 @end smallexample
4550
4551 @noindent
4552 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4553 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4554 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4555
4556 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4557 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4558
4559 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4560 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4561 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4562
4563 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4564 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4565 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4566 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4567
4568 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4569 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4570 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4571 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4572 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4573 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4574 first in the bundle.
4575
4576 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4577 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4578 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4579 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4580 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4581 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4582 is hit.
4583
4584 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4585 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4586
4587 @smallexample
4588 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4589 @end smallexample
4590
4591 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4592 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4593 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4594 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4595 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4596 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4597 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4598 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4599
4600 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4601 adjusted breakpoints:
4602
4603 @smallexample
4604 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4605 to 0x00010410.
4606 @end smallexample
4607
4608 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4609 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4610 frequently than expected.
4611
4612 @node Continuing and Stepping
4613 @section Continuing and Stepping
4614
4615 @cindex stepping
4616 @cindex continuing
4617 @cindex resuming execution
4618 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4619 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4620 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4621 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4622 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4623 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4624 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4625 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4626
4627 @table @code
4628 @kindex continue
4629 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4630 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4631 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4632 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4633 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4634 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4635 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4636 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4637 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4638 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4639
4640 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4641 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4642 @code{continue} is ignored.
4643
4644 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4645 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4646 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4647 @code{continue}.
4648 @end table
4649
4650 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4651 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4652 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4653 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4654
4655 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4656 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4657 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4658 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4659 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4660 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4661
4662 @table @code
4663 @kindex step
4664 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4665 @item step
4666 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4667 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4668 abbreviated @code{s}.
4669
4670 @quotation
4671 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4672 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4673 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4674 @c distinction here.
4675 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4676 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4677 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4678 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4679 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4680 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4681 below.
4682 @end quotation
4683
4684 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4685 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4686 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4687 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4688 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4689 called within the line.
4690
4691 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4692 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4693 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4694 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4695 was any debugging information about the routine.
4696
4697 @item step @var{count}
4698 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4699 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4700 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4701
4702 @kindex next
4703 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4704 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4705 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4706 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4707 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4708 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4709 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4710 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4711
4712 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4713
4714
4715 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4716 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4717 @c
4718 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4719 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4720 @c function are executed without stopping.
4721
4722 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4723 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4724 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4725
4726 @kindex set step-mode
4727 @item set step-mode
4728 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4729 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4730 @itemx set step-mode on
4731 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4732 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4733 information rather than stepping over it.
4734
4735 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4736 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4737 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4738
4739 @item set step-mode off
4740 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4741 debug information. This is the default.
4742
4743 @item show step-mode
4744 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4745 source line debug information.
4746
4747 @kindex finish
4748 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4749 @item finish
4750 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4751 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4752 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4753
4754 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4755 ,Returning from a Function}).
4756
4757 @kindex until
4758 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4759 @cindex run until specified location
4760 @item until
4761 @itemx u
4762 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4763 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4764 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4765 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4766 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4767 than the address of the jump.
4768
4769 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4770 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4771 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4772 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4773 through the next iteration.
4774
4775 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4776 stack frame.
4777
4778 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4779 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4780 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4781 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4782 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4783
4784 @smallexample
4785 (@value{GDBP}) f
4786 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4787 206 expand_input();
4788 (@value{GDBP}) until
4789 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4790 @end smallexample
4791
4792 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4793 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4794 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4795 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4796 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4797 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4798 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4799
4800 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4801 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4802 argument.
4803
4804 @item until @var{location}
4805 @itemx u @var{location}
4806 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4807 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4808 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4809 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4810 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4811 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4812 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4813 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4814 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4815 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4816 invocations have returned.
4817
4818 @smallexample
4819 94 int factorial (int value)
4820 95 @{
4821 96 if (value > 1) @{
4822 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4823 98 @}
4824 99 return (value);
4825 100 @}
4826 @end smallexample
4827
4828
4829 @kindex advance @var{location}
4830 @itemx advance @var{location}
4831 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4832 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4833 @ref{Specify Location}.
4834 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4835 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4836 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4837 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4838
4839
4840 @kindex stepi
4841 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4842 @item stepi
4843 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4844 @itemx si
4845 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4846
4847 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4848 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4849 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4850 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4851
4852 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4853
4854 @need 750
4855 @kindex nexti
4856 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4857 @item nexti
4858 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4859 @itemx ni
4860 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4861 proceed until the function returns.
4862
4863 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4864 @end table
4865
4866 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
4867 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
4868 @cindex skipping over functions and files
4869
4870 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
4871 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
4872 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
4873
4874 For example, consider the following C function:
4875
4876 @smallexample
4877 101 int func()
4878 102 @{
4879 103 foo(boring());
4880 104 bar(boring());
4881 105 @}
4882 @end smallexample
4883
4884 @noindent
4885 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
4886 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
4887 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
4888 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
4889
4890 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
4891 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
4892 is called from many places.
4893
4894 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
4895 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
4896 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
4897 @code{foo}.
4898
4899 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
4900 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
4901
4902 @table @code
4903 @kindex skip function
4904 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
4905 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
4906 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
4907 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
4908 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
4909
4910 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
4911 will be skipped.
4912
4913 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
4914 @kbd{skip function file}.)
4915
4916 @kindex skip file
4917 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
4918 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
4919 will be skipped over when stepping.
4920
4921 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
4922 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
4923 @end table
4924
4925 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
4926 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
4927
4928 @table @code
4929 @kindex info skip
4930 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4931 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
4932 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
4933 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
4934
4935 @table @emph
4936 @item Identifier
4937 A number identifying this skip.
4938 @item Type
4939 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
4940 @item Enabled or Disabled
4941 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
4942 @item Address
4943 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
4944 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
4945 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
4946 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
4947 address here.
4948 @item What
4949 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
4950 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
4951 where it is defined.
4952 @end table
4953
4954 @kindex skip delete
4955 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4956 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
4957 skips.
4958
4959 @kindex skip enable
4960 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4961 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
4962 skips.
4963
4964 @kindex skip disable
4965 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4966 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
4967 skips.
4968
4969 @end table
4970
4971 @node Signals
4972 @section Signals
4973 @cindex signals
4974
4975 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4976 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4977 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4978 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4979 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4980 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4981 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4982 requested an alarm).
4983
4984 @cindex fatal signals
4985 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4986 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4987 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4988 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4989 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4990 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4991
4992 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4993 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4994 signal.
4995
4996 @cindex handling signals
4997 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4998 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4999 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5000 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5001 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5002
5003 @table @code
5004 @kindex info signals
5005 @kindex info handle
5006 @item info signals
5007 @itemx info handle
5008 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5009 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5010 the defined types of signals.
5011
5012 @item info signals @var{sig}
5013 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5014
5015 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5016
5017 @kindex handle
5018 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5019 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5020 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5021 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5022 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5023 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5024 say what change to make.
5025 @end table
5026
5027 @c @group
5028 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5029 Their full names are:
5030
5031 @table @code
5032 @item nostop
5033 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5034 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5035
5036 @item stop
5037 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5038 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5039
5040 @item print
5041 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5042
5043 @item noprint
5044 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5045 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5046
5047 @item pass
5048 @itemx noignore
5049 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5050 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5051 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5052
5053 @item nopass
5054 @itemx ignore
5055 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5056 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5057 @end table
5058 @c @end group
5059
5060 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5061 program until you
5062 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5063 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5064 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5065 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5066 program sees that signal when you continue.
5067
5068 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5069 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5070 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5071 erroneous signals.
5072
5073 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5074 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5075 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5076 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5077 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5078 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5079 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5080 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5081 Program a Signal}.
5082
5083 @cindex extra signal information
5084 @anchor{extra signal information}
5085
5086 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5087 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5088 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5089 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5090 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5091 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5092 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5093 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5094 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5095 system header.
5096
5097 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5098 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5099
5100 @smallexample
5101 @group
5102 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5103 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5104 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5105 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5106 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5107 type = struct @{
5108 int si_signo;
5109 int si_errno;
5110 int si_code;
5111 union @{
5112 int _pad[28];
5113 struct @{...@} _kill;
5114 struct @{...@} _timer;
5115 struct @{...@} _rt;
5116 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5117 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5118 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5119 @} _sifields;
5120 @}
5121 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5122 type = struct @{
5123 void *si_addr;
5124 @}
5125 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5126 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5127 @end group
5128 @end smallexample
5129
5130 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5131
5132 @node Thread Stops
5133 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5134
5135 @cindex stopped threads
5136 @cindex threads, stopped
5137
5138 @cindex continuing threads
5139 @cindex threads, continuing
5140
5141 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5142 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5143 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5144 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5145 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5146 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5147 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5148 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5149 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5150
5151 @menu
5152 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5153 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5154 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5155 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5156 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5157 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5158 @end menu
5159
5160 @node All-Stop Mode
5161 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5162
5163 @cindex all-stop mode
5164
5165 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5166 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5167 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5168 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5169 underfoot.
5170
5171 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5172 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5173 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5174
5175 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5176 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5177 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5178 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5179 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5180 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5181 stops.
5182
5183 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5184 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5185 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5186 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5187
5188 @cindex automatic thread selection
5189 @cindex switching threads automatically
5190 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5191 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5192 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5193 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5194 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5195 thread.
5196
5197 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5198 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5199
5200 @table @code
5201 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5202 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5203 @cindex lock scheduler
5204 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5205 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5206 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5207 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5208 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5209 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5210 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5211 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5212 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5213 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5214 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5215 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5216
5217 @item show scheduler-locking
5218 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5219 @end table
5220
5221 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5222 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5223 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5224 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5225 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5226 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5227 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5228 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5229 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5230 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5231 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5232 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5233 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5234 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5235
5236 @table @code
5237 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5238 @item set schedule-multiple
5239 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5240 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5241 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5242 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5243 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5244 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5245
5246 @item show schedule-multiple
5247 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5248 multiple processes.
5249 @end table
5250
5251 @node Non-Stop Mode
5252 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5253
5254 @cindex non-stop mode
5255
5256 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5257 @c with more details.
5258
5259 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5260 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5261 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5262 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5263 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5264 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5265
5266 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5267 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5268 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5269 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5270 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5271 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5272 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5273 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5274 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5275 independently and simultaneously.
5276
5277 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5278 or attach to your program:
5279
5280 @smallexample
5281 # Enable the async interface.
5282 set target-async 1
5283
5284 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5285 set pagination off
5286
5287 # Finally, turn it on!
5288 set non-stop on
5289 @end smallexample
5290
5291 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5292
5293 @table @code
5294 @kindex set non-stop
5295 @item set non-stop on
5296 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5297 @item set non-stop off
5298 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5299 @kindex show non-stop
5300 @item show non-stop
5301 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5302 @end table
5303
5304 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5305 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5306 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5307 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5308 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5309 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5310 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5311 default.
5312
5313 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5314 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5315 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5316
5317 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5318 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5319 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5320 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5321 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5322
5323 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5324 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5325 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5326 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5327 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5328
5329 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5330
5331 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5332 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5333 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5334 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5335 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5336 previously current thread.
5337
5338 @node Background Execution
5339 @subsection Background Execution
5340
5341 @cindex foreground execution
5342 @cindex background execution
5343 @cindex asynchronous execution
5344 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5345
5346 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5347 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5348 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5349 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5350 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5351 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5352
5353 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5354 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5355 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5356
5357 @table @code
5358 @kindex set target-async
5359 @item set target-async on
5360 Enable asynchronous mode.
5361 @item set target-async off
5362 Disable asynchronous mode.
5363 @kindex show target-async
5364 @item show target-async
5365 Show the current target-async setting.
5366 @end table
5367
5368 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5369 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5370
5371 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5372 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5373 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5374 are:
5375
5376 @table @code
5377 @kindex run&
5378 @item run
5379 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5380
5381 @item attach
5382 @kindex attach&
5383 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5384
5385 @item step
5386 @kindex step&
5387 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5388
5389 @item stepi
5390 @kindex stepi&
5391 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5392
5393 @item next
5394 @kindex next&
5395 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5396
5397 @item nexti
5398 @kindex nexti&
5399 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5400
5401 @item continue
5402 @kindex continue&
5403 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5404
5405 @item finish
5406 @kindex finish&
5407 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5408
5409 @item until
5410 @kindex until&
5411 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5412
5413 @end table
5414
5415 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5416 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5417 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5418 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5419 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5420 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5421
5422 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5423 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5424
5425 @table @code
5426 @kindex interrupt
5427 @item interrupt
5428 @itemx interrupt -a
5429
5430 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5431 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5432 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5433 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5434 @end table
5435
5436 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5437 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5438
5439 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5440 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5441 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5442
5443 @table @code
5444 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5445 @cindex thread breakpoints
5446 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5447 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5448 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5449 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5450 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5451 specify some source line.
5452
5453 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5454 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5455 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5456 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5457 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5458
5459 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5460 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5461 program.
5462
5463 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5464 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5465 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5466
5467 @smallexample
5468 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5469 @end smallexample
5470
5471 @end table
5472
5473 @node Interrupted System Calls
5474 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5475
5476 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5477 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5478 @cindex premature return from system calls
5479 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5480 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5481 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5482 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5483 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5484 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5485 stop execution.
5486
5487 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5488 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5489 style anyways.
5490
5491 For example, do not write code like this:
5492
5493 @smallexample
5494 sleep (10);
5495 @end smallexample
5496
5497 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5498 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5499
5500 Instead, write this:
5501
5502 @smallexample
5503 int unslept = 10;
5504 while (unslept > 0)
5505 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5506 @end smallexample
5507
5508 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5509 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5510 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5511 @value{GDBN}.
5512
5513 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5514 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5515 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5516 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5517
5518 @node Observer Mode
5519 @subsection Observer Mode
5520
5521 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5522 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5523 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5524 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5525 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5526
5527 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5528 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5529 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5530 mode.
5531
5532 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5533 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5534 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5535 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5536 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5537
5538 @table @code
5539
5540 @kindex observer
5541 @item set observer on
5542 @itemx set observer off
5543 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5544 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5545 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5546 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5547
5548 @item show observer
5549 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5550
5551 @kindex may-write-registers
5552 @item set may-write-registers on
5553 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5554 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5555 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5556 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5557
5558 @item show may-write-registers
5559 Show the current permission to write registers.
5560
5561 @kindex may-write-memory
5562 @item set may-write-memory on
5563 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5564 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5565 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5566 defaults to @code{on}.
5567
5568 @item show may-write-memory
5569 Show the current permission to write memory.
5570
5571 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5572 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5573 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5574 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5575 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5576 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5577
5578 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5579 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5580
5581 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5582 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5583 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5584 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5585 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5586 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5587 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5588
5589 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5590 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5591
5592 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5593 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5594 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5595 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5596 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5597 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5598 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5599
5600 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5601 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5602
5603 @kindex may-interrupt
5604 @item set may-interrupt on
5605 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5606 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5607 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5608 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5609 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5610
5611 @item show may-interrupt
5612 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5613
5614 @end table
5615
5616 @node Reverse Execution
5617 @chapter Running programs backward
5618 @cindex reverse execution
5619 @cindex running programs backward
5620
5621 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5622 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5623 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5624 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5625
5626 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5627 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5628 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5629 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5630 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5631 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5632
5633 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5634 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5635 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5636 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5637 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5638 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5639 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5640 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5641 prior values@footnote{
5642 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5643 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5644 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5645
5646 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5647 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5648 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5649 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5650 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5651 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5652 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5653 }.
5654
5655 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5656 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5657
5658 @table @code
5659 @kindex reverse-continue
5660 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5661 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5662 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5663 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5664 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5665 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5666 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5667
5668 @kindex reverse-step
5669 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5670 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5671 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5672 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5673
5674 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5675 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5676 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5677 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5678 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5679 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5680
5681 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5682 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5683
5684 @kindex reverse-stepi
5685 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5686 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5687 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5688 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5689 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5690 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5691 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5692
5693 @kindex reverse-next
5694 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5695 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5696 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5697 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5698 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5699 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5700 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5701 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5702 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5703 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5704
5705 @kindex reverse-nexti
5706 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5707 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5708 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5709 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5710 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5711 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5712 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5713 frame) is reached.
5714
5715 @kindex reverse-finish
5716 @item reverse-finish
5717 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5718 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5719 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5720 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5721
5722 @kindex set exec-direction
5723 @item set exec-direction
5724 Set the direction of target execution.
5725 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5726 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5727 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5728 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5729 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5730 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5731 @item set exec-direction forward
5732 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5733 This is the default.
5734 @end table
5735
5736
5737 @node Process Record and Replay
5738 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5739 @cindex process record and replay
5740 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5741
5742 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5743 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5744 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5745
5746 @cindex replay mode
5747 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5748 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5749 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5750 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5751 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5752 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5753 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5754 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5755 execution log.
5756
5757 @cindex record mode
5758 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5759 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5760 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5761 for future replay.
5762
5763 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5764 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5765 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5766 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5767 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5768 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5769
5770 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5771 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5772 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5773 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5774
5775 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5776 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5777
5778 @table @code
5779 @kindex target record
5780 @kindex record
5781 @kindex rec
5782 @item target record
5783 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5784 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5785 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5786 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5787 the @kbd{target record} command.
5788
5789 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5790
5791 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5792 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5793 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5794 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5795 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5796
5797 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5798 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5799 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5800 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5801 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5802 support these two modes.
5803
5804 @kindex record stop
5805 @kindex rec s
5806 @item record stop
5807 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5808 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5809 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5810
5811 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5812 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5813 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5814 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5815 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5816
5817 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5818 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5819 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5820 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5821 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5822
5823 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5824 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5825
5826 @kindex record save
5827 @item record save @var{filename}
5828 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5829 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
5830 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
5831
5832 @kindex record restore
5833 @item record restore @var{filename}
5834 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5835 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
5836
5837 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5838 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5839 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5840
5841 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5842 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5843 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5844 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5845 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5846 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5847 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5848 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5849
5850 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5851 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5852 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5853
5854 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5855 @item show record insn-number-max
5856 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5857
5858 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5859 @item set record stop-at-limit
5860 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5861 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5862 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5863 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5864 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5865 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5866
5867 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5868 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5869
5870 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5871 @item show record stop-at-limit
5872 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5873
5874 @kindex set record memory-query
5875 @item set record memory-query
5876 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
5877 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
5878 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
5879
5880 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
5881 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
5882 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
5883 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
5884 results.
5885
5886 @kindex show record memory-query
5887 @item show record memory-query
5888 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
5889
5890 @kindex info record
5891 @item info record
5892 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5893 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5894
5895 @itemize @bullet
5896 @item
5897 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5898 @item
5899 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5900 @item
5901 Highest recorded instruction number.
5902 @item
5903 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5904 @item
5905 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5906 @item
5907 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5908 @end itemize
5909
5910 @kindex record delete
5911 @kindex rec del
5912 @item record delete
5913 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5914 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5915 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5916 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5917 @end table
5918
5919
5920 @node Stack
5921 @chapter Examining the Stack
5922
5923 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5924 stopped and how it got there.
5925
5926 @cindex call stack
5927 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5928 is generated.
5929 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5930 the arguments of the call,
5931 and the local variables of the function being called.
5932 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5933 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5934 stack}.
5935
5936 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5937 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5938
5939 @cindex selected frame
5940 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5941 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5942 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5943 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5944 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5945 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5946
5947 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5948 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5949 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5950
5951 @menu
5952 * Frames:: Stack frames
5953 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5954 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5955 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5956
5957 @end menu
5958
5959 @node Frames
5960 @section Stack Frames
5961
5962 @cindex frame, definition
5963 @cindex stack frame
5964 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5965 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5966 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5967 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5968 which the function is executing.
5969
5970 @cindex initial frame
5971 @cindex outermost frame
5972 @cindex innermost frame
5973 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5974 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5975 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5976 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5977 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5978 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5979 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5980 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5981
5982 @cindex frame pointer
5983 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5984 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5985 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5986 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5987 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5988 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5989
5990 @cindex frame number
5991 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5992 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5993 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5994 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5995 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5996
5997 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5998 @c underflow problems.
5999 @cindex frameless execution
6000 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6001 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6002 @smallexample
6003 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6004 @end smallexample
6005 generates functions without a frame.)
6006 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6007 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6008 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6009 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6010 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6011 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6012 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6013
6014 @table @code
6015 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6016 @cindex current stack frame
6017 @item frame @var{args}
6018 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6019 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6020 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6021 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6022
6023 @kindex select-frame
6024 @cindex selecting frame silently
6025 @item select-frame
6026 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6027 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6028 @code{frame}.
6029 @end table
6030
6031 @node Backtrace
6032 @section Backtraces
6033
6034 @cindex traceback
6035 @cindex call stack traces
6036 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6037 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6038 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6039 stack.
6040
6041 @table @code
6042 @kindex backtrace
6043 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6044 @item backtrace
6045 @itemx bt
6046 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6047 frames in the stack.
6048
6049 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6050 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6051
6052 @item backtrace @var{n}
6053 @itemx bt @var{n}
6054 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6055
6056 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6057 @itemx bt -@var{n}
6058 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6059
6060 @item backtrace full
6061 @itemx bt full
6062 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6063 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6064 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6065 number of frames to print, as described above.
6066 @end table
6067
6068 @kindex where
6069 @kindex info stack
6070 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6071 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6072
6073 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6074 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6075 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6076 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6077 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6078 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6079 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6080 multi-threaded program.
6081
6082 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6083 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6084 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6085 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6086 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6087 line number.
6088
6089 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6090 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6091
6092 @smallexample
6093 @group
6094 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6095 at builtin.c:993
6096 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6097 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6098 at macro.c:71
6099 (More stack frames follow...)
6100 @end group
6101 @end smallexample
6102
6103 @noindent
6104 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6105 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6106 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6107
6108 @noindent
6109 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6110 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6111 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6112 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6113 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6114
6115 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6116 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6117 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6118 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6119 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6120 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6121 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6122 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6123 such a backtrace might look like:
6124
6125 @smallexample
6126 @group
6127 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6128 at builtin.c:993
6129 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6130 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6131 at macro.c:71
6132 (More stack frames follow...)
6133 @end group
6134 @end smallexample
6135
6136 @noindent
6137 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6138 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6139
6140 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6141 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6142 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6143
6144 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6145 @cindex program entry point
6146 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6147 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6148 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6149 @code{main}@footnote{
6150 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6151 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6152 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6153 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6154 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6155 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6156
6157 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6158 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6159
6160 @table @code
6161 @item set backtrace past-main
6162 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6163 @kindex set backtrace
6164 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6165
6166 @item set backtrace past-main off
6167 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6168 default.
6169
6170 @item show backtrace past-main
6171 @kindex show backtrace
6172 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6173
6174 @item set backtrace past-entry
6175 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6176 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6177 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6178 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6179
6180 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6181 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6182 application. This is the default.
6183
6184 @item show backtrace past-entry
6185 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6186
6187 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6188 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6189 @cindex backtrace limit
6190 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6191 unlimited.
6192
6193 @item show backtrace limit
6194 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6195 @end table
6196
6197 @node Selection
6198 @section Selecting a Frame
6199
6200 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6201 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6202 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6203 of the stack frame just selected.
6204
6205 @table @code
6206 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6207 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6208 @item frame @var{n}
6209 @itemx f @var{n}
6210 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6211 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6212 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6213 @code{main}.
6214
6215 @item frame @var{addr}
6216 @itemx f @var{addr}
6217 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6218 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6219 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6220 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6221 switches between them.
6222
6223 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6224 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6225
6226 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6227 pointer and a program counter.
6228
6229 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6230 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6231
6232 @kindex up
6233 @item up @var{n}
6234 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6235 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6236 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6237
6238 @kindex down
6239 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6240 @item down @var{n}
6241 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6242 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6243 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6244 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6245 @end table
6246
6247 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6248 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6249 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6250 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6251
6252 @need 1000
6253 For example:
6254
6255 @smallexample
6256 @group
6257 (@value{GDBP}) up
6258 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6259 at env.c:10
6260 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6261 @end group
6262 @end smallexample
6263
6264 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6265 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6266 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6267 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6268 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6269 for details.
6270
6271 @table @code
6272 @kindex down-silently
6273 @kindex up-silently
6274 @item up-silently @var{n}
6275 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6276 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6277 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6278 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6279 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6280 distracting.
6281 @end table
6282
6283 @node Frame Info
6284 @section Information About a Frame
6285
6286 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6287 stack frame.
6288
6289 @table @code
6290 @item frame
6291 @itemx f
6292 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6293 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6294 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6295 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6296 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6297
6298 @kindex info frame
6299 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6300 @item info frame
6301 @itemx info f
6302 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6303 including:
6304
6305 @itemize @bullet
6306 @item
6307 the address of the frame
6308 @item
6309 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6310 @item
6311 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6312 @item
6313 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6314 @item
6315 the address of the frame's arguments
6316 @item
6317 the address of the frame's local variables
6318 @item
6319 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6320 @item
6321 which registers were saved in the frame
6322 @end itemize
6323
6324 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6325 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6326 the usual conventions.
6327
6328 @item info frame @var{addr}
6329 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6330 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6331 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6332 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6333 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6334 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6335
6336 @kindex info args
6337 @item info args
6338 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6339
6340 @item info locals
6341 @kindex info locals
6342 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6343 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6344 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6345
6346 @kindex info catch
6347 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
6348 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
6349 @item info catch
6350 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
6351 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
6352 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
6353 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
6354 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
6355
6356 @end table
6357
6358
6359 @node Source
6360 @chapter Examining Source Files
6361
6362 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6363 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6364 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6365 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6366 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6367 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6368 source files by explicit command.
6369
6370 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6371 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6372 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6373
6374 @menu
6375 * List:: Printing source lines
6376 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6377 * Edit:: Editing source files
6378 * Search:: Searching source files
6379 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6380 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6381 @end menu
6382
6383 @node List
6384 @section Printing Source Lines
6385
6386 @kindex list
6387 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6388 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6389 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6390 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6391 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6392
6393 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6394
6395 @table @code
6396 @item list @var{linenum}
6397 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6398 current source file.
6399
6400 @item list @var{function}
6401 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6402 @var{function}.
6403
6404 @item list
6405 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6406 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6407 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6408 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6409 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6410
6411 @item list -
6412 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6413 @end table
6414
6415 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6416 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6417 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6418
6419 @table @code
6420 @kindex set listsize
6421 @item set listsize @var{count}
6422 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6423 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6424
6425 @kindex show listsize
6426 @item show listsize
6427 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6428 @end table
6429
6430 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6431 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6432 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6433 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6434 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6435
6436 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6437 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6438 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6439 to specify some source line.
6440
6441 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6442
6443 @table @code
6444 @item list @var{linespec}
6445 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6446
6447 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6448 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6449 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6450 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6451 the same source file as the first linespec.
6452
6453 @item list ,@var{last}
6454 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6455
6456 @item list @var{first},
6457 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6458
6459 @item list +
6460 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6461
6462 @item list -
6463 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6464
6465 @item list
6466 As described in the preceding table.
6467 @end table
6468
6469 @node Specify Location
6470 @section Specifying a Location
6471 @cindex specifying location
6472 @cindex linespec
6473
6474 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6475 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6476 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6477 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6478
6479 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6480 @value{GDBN} understands:
6481
6482 @table @code
6483 @item @var{linenum}
6484 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6485
6486 @item -@var{offset}
6487 @itemx +@var{offset}
6488 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6489 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6490 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6491 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6492 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6493 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6494 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6495 linespec.
6496
6497 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6498 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6499
6500 @item @var{function}
6501 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6502 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6503
6504 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
6505 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
6506
6507 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6508 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6509 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6510 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6511 functions in different source files.
6512
6513 @item @var{label}
6514 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6515 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6516 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6517 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6518 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6519
6520 @item *@var{address}
6521 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6522 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6523 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6524 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6525 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6526 source files.
6527
6528 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6529 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6530 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6531 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6532 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6533 of @var{address}:
6534
6535 @table @code
6536 @item @var{expression}
6537 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6538
6539 @item @var{funcaddr}
6540 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6541 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6542 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6543 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6544 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6545 (although the Pascal form also works).
6546
6547 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6548 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6549
6550 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6551 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6552 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6553 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6554 functions with identical names in different source files.
6555 @end table
6556
6557 @end table
6558
6559
6560 @node Edit
6561 @section Editing Source Files
6562 @cindex editing source files
6563
6564 @kindex edit
6565 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6566 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6567 The editing program of your choice
6568 is invoked with the current line set to
6569 the active line in the program.
6570 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6571 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6572
6573 @table @code
6574 @item edit @var{location}
6575 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6576 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6577 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6578 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6579 command most commonly used:
6580
6581 @table @code
6582 @item edit @var{number}
6583 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6584
6585 @item edit @var{function}
6586 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6587 @end table
6588
6589 @end table
6590
6591 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6592 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6593 @footnote{
6594 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6595 following command-line syntax:
6596 @smallexample
6597 ex +@var{number} file
6598 @end smallexample
6599 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6600 the file where to start editing.}.
6601 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6602 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6603 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6604 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6605 @smallexample
6606 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6607 export EDITOR
6608 gdb @dots{}
6609 @end smallexample
6610 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6611 @smallexample
6612 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6613 gdb @dots{}
6614 @end smallexample
6615
6616 @node Search
6617 @section Searching Source Files
6618 @cindex searching source files
6619
6620 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6621 regular expression.
6622
6623 @table @code
6624 @kindex search
6625 @kindex forward-search
6626 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6627 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6628 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6629 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6630 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6631 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6632 @code{fo}.
6633
6634 @kindex reverse-search
6635 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6636 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6637 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6638 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6639 this command as @code{rev}.
6640 @end table
6641
6642 @node Source Path
6643 @section Specifying Source Directories
6644
6645 @cindex source path
6646 @cindex directories for source files
6647 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6648 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6649 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6650 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6651 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6652 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6653 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6654
6655 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6656 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6657 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6658 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6659 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6660 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6661 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6662 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6663 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6664 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6665 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6666
6667 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6668 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6669 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6670 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6671 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6672 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6673
6674 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6675 source files.
6676
6677 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6678 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6679 each line is in the file.
6680
6681 @kindex directory
6682 @kindex dir
6683 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6684 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6685 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6686
6687 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6688 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6689
6690 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6691 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6692 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6693 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6694 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6695 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6696 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6697 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6698 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6699 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6700 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6701 name to look up the sources.
6702
6703 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6704 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6705 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6706 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6707 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6708 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6709 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6710 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6711
6712 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6713 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6714 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6715 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6716 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6717 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6718 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6719
6720 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6721 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6722 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6723 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6724 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6725 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6726 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6727 command.
6728
6729 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6730 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6731 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6732 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6733 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6734 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6735 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6736
6737 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6738 @cindex default source path substitution
6739 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6740 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6741 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6742 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6743 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6744 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6745 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6746 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6747 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6748 together.
6749
6750 @table @code
6751 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6752 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6753 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6754 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6755 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6756 part of absolute file names) or
6757 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6758 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6759
6760 @kindex cdir
6761 @kindex cwd
6762 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6763 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6764 @cindex compilation directory
6765 @cindex current directory
6766 @cindex working directory
6767 @cindex directory, current
6768 @cindex directory, compilation
6769 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6770 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6771 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6772 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6773 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6774 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6775
6776 @item directory
6777 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6778
6779 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6780 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6781
6782 @item set directories @var{path-list}
6783 @kindex set directories
6784 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
6785 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
6786
6787 @item show directories
6788 @kindex show directories
6789 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6790
6791 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6792 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6793 @kindex set substitute-path
6794 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6795 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6796 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6797
6798 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6799 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6800
6801 @smallexample
6802 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6803 @end smallexample
6804
6805 @noindent
6806 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6807 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6808 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6809
6810 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6811 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6812 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6813 the substitution.
6814
6815 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6816
6817 @smallexample
6818 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6819 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6820 @end smallexample
6821
6822 @noindent
6823 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6824 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6825 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6826 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6827
6828
6829 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6830 @kindex unset substitute-path
6831 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6832 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6833 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6834
6835 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6836
6837 @item show substitute-path [path]
6838 @kindex show substitute-path
6839 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6840 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6841
6842 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6843 rules.
6844
6845 @end table
6846
6847 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6848 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6849 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6850
6851 @enumerate
6852 @item
6853 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6854
6855 @item
6856 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6857 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6858 directories in one command.
6859 @end enumerate
6860
6861 @node Machine Code
6862 @section Source and Machine Code
6863 @cindex source line and its code address
6864
6865 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6866 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6867 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6868 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6869 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6870 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6871 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6872 well as hex.
6873
6874 @table @code
6875 @kindex info line
6876 @item info line @var{linespec}
6877 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6878 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6879 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6880 @end table
6881
6882 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6883 the object code for the first line of function
6884 @code{m4_changequote}:
6885
6886 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6887 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6888 @smallexample
6889 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6890 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6891 @end smallexample
6892
6893 @noindent
6894 @cindex code address and its source line
6895 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6896 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6897 @smallexample
6898 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6899 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6900 @end smallexample
6901
6902 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6903 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6904 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6905 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6906 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6907 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6908 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6909 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6910 Variables}).
6911
6912 @table @code
6913 @kindex disassemble
6914 @cindex assembly instructions
6915 @cindex instructions, assembly
6916 @cindex machine instructions
6917 @cindex listing machine instructions
6918 @item disassemble
6919 @itemx disassemble /m
6920 @itemx disassemble /r
6921 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6922 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6923 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6924 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6925 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6926 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6927 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6928 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6929 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6930 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
6931
6932 @table @code
6933 @item @var{start},@var{end}
6934 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
6935 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
6936 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
6937 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
6938 @end table
6939
6940 @noindent
6941 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
6942 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
6943
6944 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6945 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6946
6947 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6948 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6949 @end table
6950
6951 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6952 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6953
6954 @smallexample
6955 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6956 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6957 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6958 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6959 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6960 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6961 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6962 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6963 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6964 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6965 End of assembler dump.
6966 @end smallexample
6967
6968 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6969 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6970
6971 @smallexample
6972 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6973 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6974 5 @{
6975 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6976 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6977 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6978 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6979 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6980
6981 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6982 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6983 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6984
6985 7 return 0;
6986 8 @}
6987 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6988 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6989 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6990
6991 End of assembler dump.
6992 @end smallexample
6993
6994 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
6995
6996 @smallexample
6997 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
6998 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
6999 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7000 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7001 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7002 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7003 End of assembler dump.
7004 @end smallexample
7005
7006 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7007 mnemonics or other syntax.
7008
7009 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7010 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7011 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7012 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7013 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7014
7015 @table @code
7016 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7017 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7018 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7019 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7020 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7021 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7022
7023 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7024 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7025 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7026 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7027
7028 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7029 @item show disassembly-flavor
7030 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7031 @end table
7032
7033 @table @code
7034 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7035 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7036 @item set disassemble-next-line
7037 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7038 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7039 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7040 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7041 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7042 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7043 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7044 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7045 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7046 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7047 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7048 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7049 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7050 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7051 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7052 instruction.
7053 @end table
7054
7055
7056 @node Data
7057 @chapter Examining Data
7058
7059 @cindex printing data
7060 @cindex examining data
7061 @kindex print
7062 @kindex inspect
7063 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
7064 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
7065 @c different window or something like that.
7066 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7067 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7068 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7069 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7070 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7071 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7072
7073 @table @code
7074 @item print @var{expr}
7075 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7076 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7077 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7078 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7079 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7080 Formats}.
7081
7082 @item print
7083 @itemx print /@var{f}
7084 @cindex reprint the last value
7085 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7086 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7087 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7088 @end table
7089
7090 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7091 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7092 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7093
7094 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7095 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7096 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7097 Table}.
7098
7099 @menu
7100 * Expressions:: Expressions
7101 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
7102 * Variables:: Program variables
7103 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
7104 * Output Formats:: Output formats
7105 * Memory:: Examining memory
7106 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
7107 * Print Settings:: Print settings
7108 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
7109 * Value History:: Value history
7110 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
7111 * Registers:: Registers
7112 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
7113 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
7114 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
7115 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
7116 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
7117 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
7118 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
7119 character set than GDB does
7120 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
7121 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
7122 @end menu
7123
7124 @node Expressions
7125 @section Expressions
7126
7127 @cindex expressions
7128 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
7129 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
7130 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
7131 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
7132 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
7133 you compiled your program to include this information; see
7134 @ref{Compilation}.
7135
7136 @cindex arrays in expressions
7137 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
7138 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7139 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7140 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7141 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7142 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7143
7144 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7145 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7146 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7147 languages.
7148
7149 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7150 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7151
7152 @cindex casts, in expressions
7153 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7154 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7155 at that address in memory.
7156 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7157
7158 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7159 to programming languages:
7160
7161 @table @code
7162 @item @@
7163 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7164 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7165
7166 @item ::
7167 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7168 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7169
7170 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7171 @cindex type casting memory
7172 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7173 @cindex casts, to view memory
7174 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7175 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7176 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7177 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7178 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7179 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7180 @end table
7181
7182 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7183 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7184 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7185
7186 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7187 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7188 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7189 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7190 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7191 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7192 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7193
7194 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7195 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7196 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7197 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7198 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7199 as well.
7200
7201 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7202 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7203 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7204 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7205 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7206 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7207 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7208 choices.
7209
7210 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7211 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7212 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7213
7214 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7215 @smallexample
7216 @group
7217 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7218 [0] cancel
7219 [1] all
7220 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7221 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7222 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7223 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7224 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7225 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7226 > 2 4 6
7227 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7228 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7229 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7230 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7231 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7232 breakpoints.
7233 (@value{GDBP})
7234 @end group
7235 @end smallexample
7236
7237 @table @code
7238 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7239 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7240 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7241
7242 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7243 is ambiguous.
7244
7245 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7246 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7247 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7248 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7249 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7250 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7251 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7252 in the use of the menu.
7253
7254 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7255 when an ambiguity is detected.
7256
7257 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7258 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7259
7260 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7261 @item show multiple-symbols
7262 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7263 @end table
7264
7265 @node Variables
7266 @section Program Variables
7267
7268 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7269 in your program.
7270
7271 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7272 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7273
7274 @itemize @bullet
7275 @item
7276 global (or file-static)
7277 @end itemize
7278
7279 @noindent or
7280
7281 @itemize @bullet
7282 @item
7283 visible according to the scope rules of the
7284 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7285 @end itemize
7286
7287 @noindent This means that in the function
7288
7289 @smallexample
7290 foo (a)
7291 int a;
7292 @{
7293 bar (a);
7294 @{
7295 int b = test ();
7296 bar (b);
7297 @}
7298 @}
7299 @end smallexample
7300
7301 @noindent
7302 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7303 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7304 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7305 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7306
7307 @cindex variable name conflict
7308 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7309 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7310 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7311 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7312 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7313 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
7314 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7315
7316 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7317 @ifnotinfo
7318 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7319 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7320 @end ifnotinfo
7321 @smallexample
7322 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7323 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7324 @end smallexample
7325
7326 @noindent
7327 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7328 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7329 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7330 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7331
7332 @smallexample
7333 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7334 @end smallexample
7335
7336 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7337 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7338 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7339 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7340 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7341 @c conflict?? --mew
7342
7343 @cindex wrong values
7344 @cindex variable values, wrong
7345 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7346 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7347 @quotation
7348 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7349 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7350 scope, and just before exit.
7351 @end quotation
7352 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7353 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7354 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7355 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7356 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7357 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7358 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7359 variable definitions may be gone.
7360
7361 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7362 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7363 when compiling.
7364
7365 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7366 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7367 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7368 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7369 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7370 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7371 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7372
7373 @smallexample
7374 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7375 @end smallexample
7376
7377 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7378 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7379 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
7380 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
7381 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7382
7383 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7384 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7385 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7386 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7387
7388 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
7389 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
7390 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
7391 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
7392 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
7393
7394 @smallexample
7395 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
7396 29 i++;
7397 (gdb) next
7398 30 e (i);
7399 (gdb) print i
7400 $1 = 31
7401 (gdb) print i@@entry
7402 $2 = 30
7403 @end smallexample
7404
7405 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7406 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7407 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7408 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7409 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7410 For program code
7411
7412 @smallexample
7413 char var0[] = "A";
7414 signed char var1[] = "A";
7415 @end smallexample
7416
7417 You get during debugging
7418 @smallexample
7419 (gdb) print var0
7420 $1 = "A"
7421 (gdb) print var1
7422 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7423 @end smallexample
7424
7425 @node Arrays
7426 @section Artificial Arrays
7427
7428 @cindex artificial array
7429 @cindex arrays
7430 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7431 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7432 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7433 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7434 program.
7435
7436 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7437 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7438 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7439 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7440 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7441 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7442 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7443 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7444 example. If a program says
7445
7446 @smallexample
7447 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7448 @end smallexample
7449
7450 @noindent
7451 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7452
7453 @smallexample
7454 p *array@@len
7455 @end smallexample
7456
7457 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7458 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7459 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7460 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7461 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7462
7463 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7464 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7465 The value need not be in memory:
7466 @smallexample
7467 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7468 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7469 @end smallexample
7470
7471 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7472 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7473 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7474 @smallexample
7475 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7476 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7477 @end smallexample
7478
7479 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7480 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7481 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7482 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7483 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7484 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7485 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7486 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7487 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7488 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7489
7490 @smallexample
7491 set $i = 0
7492 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7493 @key{RET}
7494 @key{RET}
7495 @dots{}
7496 @end smallexample
7497
7498 @node Output Formats
7499 @section Output Formats
7500
7501 @cindex formatted output
7502 @cindex output formats
7503 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7504 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7505 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7506 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7507 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7508
7509 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7510 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7511 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7512 letters supported are:
7513
7514 @table @code
7515 @item x
7516 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7517 hexadecimal.
7518
7519 @item d
7520 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7521
7522 @item u
7523 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7524
7525 @item o
7526 Print as integer in octal.
7527
7528 @item t
7529 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7530 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7531 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7532 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7533
7534 @item a
7535 @cindex unknown address, locating
7536 @cindex locate address
7537 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7538 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7539 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7540
7541 @smallexample
7542 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7543 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7544 @end smallexample
7545
7546 @noindent
7547 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7548 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7549
7550 @item c
7551 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7552 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7553 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7554 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7555
7556 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7557 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7558 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7559 data.
7560
7561 @item f
7562 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7563 using typical floating point syntax.
7564
7565 @item s
7566 @cindex printing strings
7567 @cindex printing byte arrays
7568 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7569 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7570 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7571 natural types.
7572
7573 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7574 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7575 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7576 array.
7577
7578 @item r
7579 @cindex raw printing
7580 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7581 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7582 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7583 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7584 pretty-printer which might exist.
7585 @end table
7586
7587 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7588
7589 @smallexample
7590 p/x $pc
7591 @end smallexample
7592
7593 @noindent
7594 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7595 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7596
7597 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7598 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7599 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7600
7601 @node Memory
7602 @section Examining Memory
7603
7604 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7605 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7606
7607 @cindex examining memory
7608 @table @code
7609 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7610 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7611 @itemx x @var{addr}
7612 @itemx x
7613 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7614 @end table
7615
7616 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7617 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7618 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7619 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7620 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7621
7622 @table @r
7623 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7624 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7625 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7626 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7627 @c 4.1.2.
7628
7629 @item @var{f}, the display format
7630 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7631 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7632 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7633 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7634 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7635
7636 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7637 The unit size is any of
7638
7639 @table @code
7640 @item b
7641 Bytes.
7642 @item h
7643 Halfwords (two bytes).
7644 @item w
7645 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7646 @item g
7647 Giant words (eight bytes).
7648 @end table
7649
7650 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7651 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7652 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7653 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7654 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
7655 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7656 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7657 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7658 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7659 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7660 be altered.
7661
7662 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7663 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7664 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7665 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7666 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7667 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7668 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7669 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7670 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7671 a value from memory).
7672 @end table
7673
7674 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7675 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7676 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7677 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7678 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7679
7680 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7681 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7682 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7683 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7684 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7685
7686 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7687 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7688 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7689 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7690 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7691 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7692 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7693 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7694 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7695
7696 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7697 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7698 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7699 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7700 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7701 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7702 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7703
7704 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7705 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7706
7707 @smallexample
7708 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7709 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7710 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7711 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7712 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7713 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7714 @end smallexample
7715
7716 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7717 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7718 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7719 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7720 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7721 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7722 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7723 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7724 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7725
7726 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7727 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7728 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7729
7730 @cindex remote memory comparison
7731 @cindex verify remote memory image
7732 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7733 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7734 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7735 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7736 situations.
7737
7738 @table @code
7739 @kindex compare-sections
7740 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7741 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7742 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7743 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7744 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7745 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7746 remote request.
7747 @end table
7748
7749 @node Auto Display
7750 @section Automatic Display
7751 @cindex automatic display
7752 @cindex display of expressions
7753
7754 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7755 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7756 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7757 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7758 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7759 The automatic display looks like this:
7760
7761 @smallexample
7762 2: foo = 38
7763 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7764 @end smallexample
7765
7766 @noindent
7767 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7768 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7769 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7770 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7771 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7772 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7773
7774 @table @code
7775 @kindex display
7776 @item display @var{expr}
7777 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7778 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7779
7780 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7781
7782 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7783 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7784 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7785 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7786 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7787
7788 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7789 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7790 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7791 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7792 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7793 @end table
7794
7795 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7796 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7797 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7798
7799 @table @code
7800 @kindex delete display
7801 @kindex undisplay
7802 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7803 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7804 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
7805 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
7806 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
7807 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
7808 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7809
7810 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7811 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7812
7813 @kindex disable display
7814 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7815 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7816 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7817 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
7818 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
7819 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
7820 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
7821 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7822
7823 @kindex enable display
7824 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7825 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7826 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7827 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
7828 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
7829 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
7830 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7831
7832 @item display
7833 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7834 done when your program stops.
7835
7836 @kindex info display
7837 @item info display
7838 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7839 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7840 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7841 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7842 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7843 @end table
7844
7845 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7846 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7847 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7848 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7849 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7850 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7851 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7852 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7853 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7854 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7855 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7856
7857 @node Print Settings
7858 @section Print Settings
7859
7860 @cindex format options
7861 @cindex print settings
7862 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7863 and symbols are printed.
7864
7865 @noindent
7866 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7867
7868 @table @code
7869 @kindex set print
7870 @item set print address
7871 @itemx set print address on
7872 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7873 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7874 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7875 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7876 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7877 @code{set print address on}:
7878
7879 @smallexample
7880 @group
7881 (@value{GDBP}) f
7882 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7883 at input.c:530
7884 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7885 @end group
7886 @end smallexample
7887
7888 @item set print address off
7889 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7890 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7891
7892 @smallexample
7893 @group
7894 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7895 (@value{GDBP}) f
7896 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7897 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7898 @end group
7899 @end smallexample
7900
7901 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7902 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7903 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7904 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7905
7906 @kindex show print
7907 @item show print address
7908 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7909 @end table
7910
7911 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7912 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7913 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7914 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7915 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7916 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7917 it prints a symbolic address:
7918
7919 @table @code
7920 @item set print symbol-filename on
7921 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7922 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7923 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7924 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7925
7926 @item set print symbol-filename off
7927 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7928 default.
7929
7930 @item show print symbol-filename
7931 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7932 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7933 @end table
7934
7935 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7936 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7937 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7938
7939 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7940 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7941
7942 @table @code
7943 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7944 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7945 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7946 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7947 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7948 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7949
7950 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7951 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7952 symbolic address.
7953 @end table
7954
7955 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7956 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7957 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7958 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7959 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7960 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7961 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7962 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7963
7964 @smallexample
7965 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7966 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7967 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7968 @end smallexample
7969
7970 @quotation
7971 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7972 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7973 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7974 @end quotation
7975
7976 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7977
7978 @table @code
7979 @item set print array
7980 @itemx set print array on
7981 @cindex pretty print arrays
7982 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7983 but uses more space. The default is off.
7984
7985 @item set print array off
7986 Return to compressed format for arrays.
7987
7988 @item show print array
7989 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7990 arrays.
7991
7992 @cindex print array indexes
7993 @item set print array-indexes
7994 @itemx set print array-indexes on
7995 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7996 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7997 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7998
7999 @item set print array-indexes off
8000 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8001
8002 @item show print array-indexes
8003 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8004 arrays.
8005
8006 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8007 @cindex number of array elements to print
8008 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8009 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8010 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8011 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8012 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8013 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8014 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
8015
8016 @item show print elements
8017 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8018 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8019
8020 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8021 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8022 @cindex printing frame argument values
8023 @cindex print all frame argument values
8024 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8025 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8026 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8027 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8028 values are:
8029
8030 @table @code
8031 @item all
8032 The values of all arguments are printed.
8033
8034 @item scalars
8035 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
8036 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
8037 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
8038 only scalar arguments are shown:
8039
8040 @smallexample
8041 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
8042 at frame-args.c:23
8043 @end smallexample
8044
8045 @item none
8046 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
8047 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
8048
8049 @smallexample
8050 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
8051 at frame-args.c:23
8052 @end smallexample
8053 @end table
8054
8055 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
8056 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
8057 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
8058 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
8059 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
8060 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
8061 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
8062 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
8063 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
8064 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
8065
8066 @item show print frame-arguments
8067 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
8068
8069 @anchor{set print entry-values}
8070 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
8071 @kindex set print entry-values
8072 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
8073 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
8074 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
8075 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
8076 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
8077
8078 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
8079 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
8080 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
8081 @code{no} setting.
8082
8083 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
8084 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
8085 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
8086 this information.
8087
8088 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
8089
8090 @table @code
8091 @item no
8092 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
8093 point.
8094 @smallexample
8095 #0 equal (val=5)
8096 #0 different (val=6)
8097 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
8098 #0 born (val=10)
8099 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8100 @end smallexample
8101
8102 @item only
8103 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
8104 values are never printed.
8105 @smallexample
8106 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8107 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8108 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8109 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8110 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8111 @end smallexample
8112
8113 @item preferred
8114 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
8115 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
8116 value for such parameter.
8117 @smallexample
8118 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8119 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8120 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8121 #0 born (val=10)
8122 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8123 @end smallexample
8124
8125 @item if-needed
8126 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
8127 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
8128 parameter.
8129 @smallexample
8130 #0 equal (val=5)
8131 #0 different (val=6)
8132 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8133 #0 born (val=10)
8134 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8135 @end smallexample
8136
8137 @item both
8138 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
8139 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
8140 optimizations.
8141 @smallexample
8142 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
8143 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8144 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8145 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8146 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8147 @end smallexample
8148
8149 @item compact
8150 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
8151 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
8152 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
8153 values are known and identical, print the shortened
8154 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8155 @smallexample
8156 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8157 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8158 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8159 #0 born (val=10)
8160 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8161 @end smallexample
8162
8163 @item default
8164 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
8165 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
8166 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
8167 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8168 @smallexample
8169 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8170 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8171 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8172 #0 born (val=10)
8173 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8174 @end smallexample
8175 @end table
8176
8177 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
8178 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
8179
8180 @item show print entry-values
8181 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
8182 entry.
8183
8184 @item set print repeats
8185 @cindex repeated array elements
8186 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
8187 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
8188 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
8189 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
8190 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
8191 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
8192 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
8193
8194 @item show print repeats
8195 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
8196 elements.
8197
8198 @item set print null-stop
8199 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
8200 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
8201 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
8202 contain only short strings.
8203 The default is off.
8204
8205 @item show print null-stop
8206 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
8207 @sc{null} character.
8208
8209 @item set print pretty on
8210 @cindex print structures in indented form
8211 @cindex indentation in structure display
8212 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
8213 per line, like this:
8214
8215 @smallexample
8216 @group
8217 $1 = @{
8218 next = 0x0,
8219 flags = @{
8220 sweet = 1,
8221 sour = 1
8222 @},
8223 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
8224 @}
8225 @end group
8226 @end smallexample
8227
8228 @item set print pretty off
8229 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
8230
8231 @smallexample
8232 @group
8233 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
8234 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
8235 @end group
8236 @end smallexample
8237
8238 @noindent
8239 This is the default format.
8240
8241 @item show print pretty
8242 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
8243
8244 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
8245 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
8246 @cindex octal escapes in strings
8247 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
8248 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
8249 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
8250 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
8251 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
8252
8253 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
8254 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
8255 international character sets, and is the default.
8256
8257 @item show print sevenbit-strings
8258 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
8259
8260 @item set print union on
8261 @cindex unions in structures, printing
8262 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
8263 and other unions. This is the default setting.
8264
8265 @item set print union off
8266 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
8267 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
8268 instead.
8269
8270 @item show print union
8271 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
8272 structures and other unions.
8273
8274 For example, given the declarations
8275
8276 @smallexample
8277 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
8278 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
8279 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
8280 Bug_forms;
8281
8282 struct thing @{
8283 Species it;
8284 union @{
8285 Tree_forms tree;
8286 Bug_forms bug;
8287 @} form;
8288 @};
8289
8290 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
8291 @end smallexample
8292
8293 @noindent
8294 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
8295
8296 @smallexample
8297 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
8298 @end smallexample
8299
8300 @noindent
8301 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
8302
8303 @smallexample
8304 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
8305 @end smallexample
8306
8307 @noindent
8308 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
8309 and in Pascal.
8310 @end table
8311
8312 @need 1000
8313 @noindent
8314 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8315
8316 @table @code
8317 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8318 @item set print demangle
8319 @itemx set print demangle on
8320 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8321 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8322 linkage. The default is on.
8323
8324 @item show print demangle
8325 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8326
8327 @item set print asm-demangle
8328 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8329 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8330 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8331 The default is off.
8332
8333 @item show print asm-demangle
8334 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8335 or demangled form.
8336
8337 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8338 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8339 @kindex set demangle-style
8340 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8341 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8342 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8343
8344 @table @code
8345 @item auto
8346 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8347
8348 @item gnu
8349 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8350 This is the default.
8351
8352 @item hp
8353 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8354
8355 @item lucid
8356 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8357
8358 @item arm
8359 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8360 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8361 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8362 require further enhancement to permit that.
8363
8364 @end table
8365 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8366
8367 @item show demangle-style
8368 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8369
8370 @item set print object
8371 @itemx set print object on
8372 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8373 @cindex display derived types
8374 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8375 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8376 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
8377 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
8378 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
8379 type is sufficient.
8380
8381 @item set print object off
8382 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8383 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8384
8385 @item show print object
8386 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8387
8388 @item set print static-members
8389 @itemx set print static-members on
8390 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8391 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8392
8393 @item set print static-members off
8394 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8395
8396 @item show print static-members
8397 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8398
8399 @item set print pascal_static-members
8400 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8401 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8402 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8403 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8404
8405 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8406 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8407
8408 @item show print pascal_static-members
8409 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8410
8411 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8412 @item set print vtbl
8413 @itemx set print vtbl on
8414 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8415 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8416 @cindex VTBL display
8417 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8418 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8419 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8420
8421 @item set print vtbl off
8422 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8423
8424 @item show print vtbl
8425 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8426 @end table
8427
8428 @node Pretty Printing
8429 @section Pretty Printing
8430
8431 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8432 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8433 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8434
8435 @menu
8436 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8437 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8438 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8439 @end menu
8440
8441 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8442 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8443
8444 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8445 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8446 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8447
8448 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8449 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8450 pretty-printers with their names.
8451 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8452 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8453 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8454 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8455
8456 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8457 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8458 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8459 do anything special.
8460
8461 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
8462
8463 @itemize @bullet
8464 @item
8465 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
8466 all inferiors.
8467
8468 @item
8469 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
8470 when debugging that program.
8471 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
8472
8473 @item
8474 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
8475 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
8476 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
8477 @end itemize
8478
8479 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
8480 pretty-printers are selected,
8481
8482 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
8483 for new types.
8484
8485 @node Pretty-Printer Example
8486 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
8487
8488 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
8489
8490 @smallexample
8491 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8492 $1 = @{
8493 static npos = 4294967295,
8494 _M_dataplus = @{
8495 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8496 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8497 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8498 @},
8499 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8500 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8501 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8502 @}
8503 @}
8504 @end smallexample
8505
8506 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8507
8508 @smallexample
8509 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8510 $2 = "abcd"
8511 @end smallexample
8512
8513 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
8514 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
8515 @cindex pretty-printer commands
8516
8517 @table @code
8518 @kindex info pretty-printer
8519 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8520 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
8521 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
8522
8523 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
8524 whose pretty-printers to list.
8525 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
8526 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
8527 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
8528 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
8529 looks up a printer from these three objects.
8530
8531 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
8532 to list.
8533
8534 @kindex disable pretty-printer
8535 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8536 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8537 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
8538
8539 @kindex enable pretty-printer
8540 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8541 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8542 @end table
8543
8544 Example:
8545
8546 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
8547 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
8548 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
8549 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
8550
8551 @smallexample
8552 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8553 library1.so:
8554 foo
8555 library2.so:
8556 bar
8557 bar1
8558 bar2
8559 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8560 library2.so:
8561 bar
8562 bar1
8563 bar2
8564 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
8565 1 printer disabled
8566 2 of 3 printers enabled
8567 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8568 library1.so:
8569 foo [disabled]
8570 library2.so:
8571 bar
8572 bar1
8573 bar2
8574 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
8575 1 printer disabled
8576 1 of 3 printers enabled
8577 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8578 library1.so:
8579 foo [disabled]
8580 library2.so:
8581 bar
8582 bar1 [disabled]
8583 bar2
8584 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
8585 1 printer disabled
8586 0 of 3 printers enabled
8587 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8588 library1.so:
8589 foo [disabled]
8590 library2.so:
8591 bar [disabled]
8592 bar1 [disabled]
8593 bar2
8594 @end smallexample
8595
8596 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
8597 as can each individual subprinter.
8598
8599 @node Value History
8600 @section Value History
8601
8602 @cindex value history
8603 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8604 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8605 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8606 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8607 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8608 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8609 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8610 symbol table.
8611
8612 @cindex @code{$}
8613 @cindex @code{$$}
8614 @cindex history number
8615 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8616 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8617 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8618 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8619 history number.
8620
8621 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8622 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8623 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8624 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8625 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8626 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8627 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8628
8629 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8630 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8631
8632 @smallexample
8633 p *$
8634 @end smallexample
8635
8636 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8637 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8638
8639 @smallexample
8640 p *$.next
8641 @end smallexample
8642
8643 @noindent
8644 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8645 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8646
8647 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8648 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8649
8650 @smallexample
8651 print x
8652 set x=5
8653 @end smallexample
8654
8655 @noindent
8656 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8657 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8658
8659 @table @code
8660 @kindex show values
8661 @item show values
8662 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8663 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8664 values} does not change the history.
8665
8666 @item show values @var{n}
8667 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8668
8669 @item show values +
8670 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8671 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8672 @end table
8673
8674 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8675 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8676
8677 @node Convenience Vars
8678 @section Convenience Variables
8679
8680 @cindex convenience variables
8681 @cindex user-defined variables
8682 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8683 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8684 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8685 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8686 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8687
8688 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8689 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8690 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8691 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8692 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8693
8694 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8695 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8696 For example:
8697
8698 @smallexample
8699 set $foo = *object_ptr
8700 @end smallexample
8701
8702 @noindent
8703 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8704 @code{object_ptr}.
8705
8706 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8707 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8708 value with another assignment at any time.
8709
8710 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8711 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8712 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8713 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8714
8715 @table @code
8716 @kindex show convenience
8717 @cindex show all user variables
8718 @item show convenience
8719 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8720 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8721
8722 @kindex init-if-undefined
8723 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
8724 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8725 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8726 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8727 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8728 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8729 override default values used in a command script.
8730
8731 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8732 any side-effects do not occur.
8733 @end table
8734
8735 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8736 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8737 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8738
8739 @smallexample
8740 set $i = 0
8741 print bar[$i++]->contents
8742 @end smallexample
8743
8744 @noindent
8745 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8746
8747 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8748 values likely to be useful.
8749
8750 @table @code
8751 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8752 @item $_
8753 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8754 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8755 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8756 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8757 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8758 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8759 to the type of @code{$__}.
8760
8761 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8762 @item $__
8763 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8764 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8765 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8766
8767 @item $_exitcode
8768 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8769 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8770 the program being debugged terminates.
8771
8772 @item $_sdata
8773 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
8774 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
8775 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
8776 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
8777 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
8778
8779 @item $_siginfo
8780 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8781 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8782 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8783 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8784 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8785
8786 @item $_tlb
8787 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8788 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8789 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8790 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8791 @xref{General Query Packets}.
8792 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8793
8794 @end table
8795
8796 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8797 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8798 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8799
8800 @cindex convenience functions
8801 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8802 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8803 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8804 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8805 @value{GDBN}.
8806
8807 @table @code
8808 @item help function
8809 @kindex help function
8810 @cindex show all convenience functions
8811 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8812 @end table
8813
8814 @node Registers
8815 @section Registers
8816
8817 @cindex registers
8818 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8819 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8820 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8821 your machine.
8822
8823 @table @code
8824 @kindex info registers
8825 @item info registers
8826 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8827 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8828
8829 @kindex info all-registers
8830 @cindex floating point registers
8831 @item info all-registers
8832 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8833 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8834
8835 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8836 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8837 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8838 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8839 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8840 @end table
8841
8842 @cindex stack pointer register
8843 @cindex program counter register
8844 @cindex process status register
8845 @cindex frame pointer register
8846 @cindex standard registers
8847 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8848 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8849 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8850 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8851 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8852 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8853 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8854 you could print the program counter in hex with
8855
8856 @smallexample
8857 p/x $pc
8858 @end smallexample
8859
8860 @noindent
8861 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8862
8863 @smallexample
8864 x/i $pc
8865 @end smallexample
8866
8867 @noindent
8868 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8869 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8870 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8871 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8872 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8873 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8874 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8875
8876 @smallexample
8877 set $sp += 4
8878 @end smallexample
8879
8880 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8881 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8882 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8883 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8884 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8885 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8886 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8887
8888 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8889 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8890 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8891 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8892 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8893 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8894 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8895
8896 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8897 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8898 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8899 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8900 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8901 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8902 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8903 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8904 prints the data in both formats.
8905
8906 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8907 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8908 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8909 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8910 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8911 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8912 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8913
8914 @smallexample
8915 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8916 $1 = @{
8917 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8918 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8919 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8920 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8921 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8922 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8923 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8924 @}
8925 @end smallexample
8926
8927 @noindent
8928 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8929 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8930 value to a @code{struct} member:
8931
8932 @smallexample
8933 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8934 @end smallexample
8935
8936 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8937 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8938 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8939 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8940 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8941 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8942
8943 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8944 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8945 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8946 frame makes no difference.
8947
8948 @node Floating Point Hardware
8949 @section Floating Point Hardware
8950 @cindex floating point
8951
8952 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8953 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8954
8955 @table @code
8956 @kindex info float
8957 @item info float
8958 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8959 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8960 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8961 the ARM and x86 machines.
8962 @end table
8963
8964 @node Vector Unit
8965 @section Vector Unit
8966 @cindex vector unit
8967
8968 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8969 more information about the status of the vector unit.
8970
8971 @table @code
8972 @kindex info vector
8973 @item info vector
8974 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8975 layout vary depending on the hardware.
8976 @end table
8977
8978 @node OS Information
8979 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8980 @cindex OS information
8981
8982 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8983 you debug your program.
8984
8985 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8986 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
8987 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8988 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8989 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8990 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8991 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8992 structure.
8993
8994 @table @code
8995 @item info udot
8996 @kindex info udot
8997 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8998 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8999 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
9000 the @code{examine} command.
9001 @end table
9002
9003 @cindex auxiliary vector
9004 @cindex vector, auxiliary
9005 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9006 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
9007 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
9008 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
9009 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
9010 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
9011 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
9012 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
9013 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
9014 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
9015 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
9016
9017 @table @code
9018 @kindex info auxv
9019 @item info auxv
9020 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
9021 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
9022 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
9023 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
9024 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
9025 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
9026 an unrecognized tag.
9027 @end table
9028
9029 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
9030 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
9031 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
9032 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
9033
9034 @table @code
9035 @kindex info os
9036 @item info os
9037 List the types of OS information available for the target. If the
9038 target does not return a list of possible types, this command will
9039 report an error.
9040
9041 @kindex info os processes
9042 @item info os processes
9043 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
9044 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
9045 the command corresponding to the process.
9046 @end table
9047
9048 @node Memory Region Attributes
9049 @section Memory Region Attributes
9050 @cindex memory region attributes
9051
9052 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
9053 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
9054 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
9055 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
9056 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
9057 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
9058 user can override the fetched regions.
9059
9060 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
9061 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
9062 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
9063 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
9064 all memory.
9065
9066 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
9067 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
9068
9069 @table @code
9070 @kindex mem
9071 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
9072 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
9073 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
9074 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
9075 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
9076 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
9077
9078 @item mem auto
9079 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
9080 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
9081
9082 @kindex delete mem
9083 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9084 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
9085 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
9086
9087 @kindex disable mem
9088 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9089 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9090 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
9091 It may be enabled again later.
9092
9093 @kindex enable mem
9094 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9095 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9096
9097 @kindex info mem
9098 @item info mem
9099 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
9100 for each region:
9101
9102 @table @emph
9103 @item Memory Region Number
9104 @item Enabled or Disabled.
9105 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
9106 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
9107
9108 @item Lo Address
9109 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
9110
9111 @item Hi Address
9112 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
9113
9114 @item Attributes
9115 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
9116 @end table
9117 @end table
9118
9119
9120 @subsection Attributes
9121
9122 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
9123 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
9124 write accesses to a memory region.
9125
9126 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
9127 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
9128 etc.@: from accessing memory.
9129
9130 @table @code
9131 @item ro
9132 Memory is read only.
9133 @item wo
9134 Memory is write only.
9135 @item rw
9136 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
9137 @end table
9138
9139 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
9140 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
9141 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
9142 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
9143 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
9144
9145 @table @code
9146 @item 8
9147 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
9148 @item 16
9149 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
9150 @item 32
9151 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
9152 @item 64
9153 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
9154 @end table
9155
9156 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
9157 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9158 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
9159 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
9160 @c
9161 @c @table @code
9162 @c @item hwbreak
9163 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
9164 @c @item swbreak (default)
9165 @c @end table
9166
9167 @subsubsection Data Cache
9168 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
9169 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
9170 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
9171 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
9172 registers.
9173
9174 @table @code
9175 @item cache
9176 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
9177 @item nocache
9178 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
9179 @end table
9180
9181 @subsection Memory Access Checking
9182 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
9183 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
9184 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
9185 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
9186
9187 @table @code
9188 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
9189 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
9190 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
9191 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
9192 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
9193 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
9194 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
9195 The default value is @code{on}.
9196 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
9197 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
9198 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
9199 @end table
9200
9201
9202 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
9203 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9204 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
9205 @c
9206 @c @table @code
9207 @c @item verify
9208 @c @item noverify (default)
9209 @c @end table
9210
9211 @node Dump/Restore Files
9212 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
9213 @cindex dump/restore files
9214 @cindex append data to a file
9215 @cindex dump data to a file
9216 @cindex restore data from a file
9217
9218 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
9219 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
9220 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
9221 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
9222 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
9223 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
9224 files.
9225
9226 @table @code
9227
9228 @kindex dump
9229 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9230 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9231 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9232 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
9233
9234 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
9235 @table @code
9236 @item binary
9237 Raw binary form.
9238 @item ihex
9239 Intel hex format.
9240 @item srec
9241 Motorola S-record format.
9242 @item tekhex
9243 Tektronix Hex format.
9244 @end table
9245
9246 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
9247 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
9248 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
9249 form.
9250
9251 @kindex append
9252 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9253 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9254 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9255 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
9256 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
9257
9258 @kindex restore
9259 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
9260 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
9261 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
9262 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
9263 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
9264
9265 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
9266 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
9267 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
9268 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
9269 from that location.
9270
9271 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
9272 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
9273 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
9274 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
9275
9276 @end table
9277
9278 @node Core File Generation
9279 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
9280 @cindex dump core from inferior
9281
9282 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
9283 image of a running process and its process status (register values
9284 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
9285 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
9286 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
9287 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
9288 the post-mortem debugging mode.
9289
9290 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
9291 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
9292 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
9293
9294 @table @code
9295 @kindex gcore
9296 @kindex generate-core-file
9297 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
9298 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
9299 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
9300 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
9301 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
9302 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
9303
9304 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
9305 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
9306 @end table
9307
9308 @node Character Sets
9309 @section Character Sets
9310 @cindex character sets
9311 @cindex charset
9312 @cindex translating between character sets
9313 @cindex host character set
9314 @cindex target character set
9315
9316 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
9317 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
9318 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
9319 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
9320 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
9321 @dfn{target character set}.
9322
9323 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9324 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9325 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9326 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9327 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9328 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9329 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9330 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9331 character and string literals in expressions.
9332
9333 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
9334 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
9335 target-charset} command, described below.
9336
9337 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
9338 support:
9339
9340 @table @code
9341 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
9342 @kindex set target-charset
9343 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
9344 list of supported target character sets, type
9345 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9346
9347 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
9348 @kindex set host-charset
9349 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
9350
9351 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
9352 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
9353 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
9354 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
9355 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
9356
9357 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
9358 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9359 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
9360
9361 @item set charset @var{charset}
9362 @kindex set charset
9363 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
9364 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9365 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
9366 for both host and target.
9367
9368 @item show charset
9369 @kindex show charset
9370 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
9371
9372 @item show host-charset
9373 @kindex show host-charset
9374 Show the name of the current host character set.
9375
9376 @item show target-charset
9377 @kindex show target-charset
9378 Show the name of the current target character set.
9379
9380 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
9381 @kindex set target-wide-charset
9382 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
9383 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
9384 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
9385 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9386
9387 @item show target-wide-charset
9388 @kindex show target-wide-charset
9389 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
9390 @end table
9391
9392 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
9393 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
9394 @file{charset-test.c}:
9395
9396 @smallexample
9397 #include <stdio.h>
9398
9399 char ascii_hello[]
9400 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
9401 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
9402 char ibm1047_hello[]
9403 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
9404 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
9405
9406 main ()
9407 @{
9408 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9409 @}
9410 @end smallexample
9411
9412 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
9413 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
9414 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
9415
9416 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
9417
9418 @smallexample
9419 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
9420 $ gdb -nw charset-test
9421 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
9422 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9423 @dots{}
9424 (@value{GDBP})
9425 @end smallexample
9426
9427 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
9428 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
9429 strings:
9430
9431 @smallexample
9432 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9433 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
9434 (@value{GDBP})
9435 @end smallexample
9436
9437 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
9438 initial character set:
9439 @smallexample
9440 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
9441 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9442 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
9443 (@value{GDBP})
9444 @end smallexample
9445
9446 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
9447 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
9448 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
9449 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
9450 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
9451
9452 @smallexample
9453 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9454 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
9455 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9456 $2 = 72 'H'
9457 (@value{GDBP})
9458 @end smallexample
9459
9460 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
9461 literals you use in expressions:
9462
9463 @smallexample
9464 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9465 $3 = 43 '+'
9466 (@value{GDBP})
9467 @end smallexample
9468
9469 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
9470 character.
9471
9472 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
9473 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
9474 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
9475
9476 @smallexample
9477 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9478 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
9479 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9480 $5 = 200 '\310'
9481 (@value{GDBP})
9482 @end smallexample
9483
9484 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
9485 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
9486
9487 @smallexample
9488 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9489 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
9490 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9491 @end smallexample
9492
9493 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
9494 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
9495 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
9496 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
9497 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
9498
9499 @smallexample
9500 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
9501 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9502 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
9503 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
9504 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9505 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
9506 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9507 $7 = 72 '\110'
9508 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9509 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
9510 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9511 $9 = 200 'H'
9512 (@value{GDBP})
9513 @end smallexample
9514
9515 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
9516 string literals you use in expressions:
9517
9518 @smallexample
9519 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9520 $10 = 78 '+'
9521 (@value{GDBP})
9522 @end smallexample
9523
9524 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9525 character.
9526
9527 @node Caching Remote Data
9528 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9529 @cindex caching data of remote targets
9530
9531 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
9532 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
9533 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
9534 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
9535 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
9536 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
9537 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
9538 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
9539 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
9540 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
9541 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
9542 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
9543 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
9544 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
9545 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
9546
9547 @table @code
9548 @kindex set remotecache
9549 @item set remotecache on
9550 @itemx set remotecache off
9551 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9552 with old scripts.
9553
9554 @kindex show remotecache
9555 @item show remotecache
9556 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9557
9558 @kindex set stack-cache
9559 @item set stack-cache on
9560 @itemx set stack-cache off
9561 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9562 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9563
9564 @kindex show stack-cache
9565 @item show stack-cache
9566 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9567
9568 @kindex info dcache
9569 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9570 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9571 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9572 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9573 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9574 operation.
9575
9576 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9577 printed in hex.
9578
9579 @item set dcache size @var{size}
9580 @cindex dcache size
9581 @kindex set dcache size
9582 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
9583
9584 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
9585 @cindex dcache line-size
9586 @kindex set dcache line-size
9587 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
9588 Must be a power of 2.
9589
9590 @item show dcache size
9591 @kindex show dcache size
9592 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
9593
9594 @item show dcache line-size
9595 @kindex show dcache line-size
9596 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
9597
9598 @end table
9599
9600 @node Searching Memory
9601 @section Search Memory
9602 @cindex searching memory
9603
9604 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9605 @code{find} command.
9606
9607 @table @code
9608 @kindex find
9609 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9610 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9611 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9612 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9613 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9614 @end table
9615
9616 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9617 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9618
9619 @table @r
9620 @item @var{s}, search query size
9621 The size of each search query value.
9622
9623 @table @code
9624 @item b
9625 bytes
9626 @item h
9627 halfwords (two bytes)
9628 @item w
9629 words (four bytes)
9630 @item g
9631 giant words (eight bytes)
9632 @end table
9633
9634 All values are interpreted in the current language.
9635 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9636 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9637
9638 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9639 value's type in the current language.
9640 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9641 pattern as a mixture of types.
9642 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9643 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9644 which is typically four bytes.
9645
9646 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9647 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9648 @end table
9649
9650 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9651 (@code{"}).
9652 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9653 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9654
9655 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9656 number of matches found.
9657
9658 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9659 @samp{$_}.
9660 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9661
9662 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9663
9664 @smallexample
9665 void
9666 hello ()
9667 @{
9668 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9669 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9670 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9671 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9672 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9673 @}
9674 @end smallexample
9675
9676 @noindent
9677 you get during debugging:
9678
9679 @smallexample
9680 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
9681 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9682 1 pattern found
9683 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
9684 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9685 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9686 2 patterns found
9687 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
9688 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9689 1 pattern found
9690 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
9691 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
9692 1 pattern found
9693 (gdb) print $numfound
9694 $1 = 1
9695 (gdb) print $_
9696 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9697 @end smallexample
9698
9699 @node Optimized Code
9700 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9701 @cindex optimized code, debugging
9702 @cindex debugging optimized code
9703
9704 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9705 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9706 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9707 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9708 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9709 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9710 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9711
9712 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9713 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9714 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9715 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9716
9717 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9718 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9719 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9720 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9721 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9722 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9723
9724 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9725 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9726 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9727 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9728 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9729
9730 @menu
9731 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9732 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
9733 @end menu
9734
9735 @node Inline Functions
9736 @section Inline Functions
9737 @cindex inline functions, debugging
9738
9739 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9740 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9741 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9742 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9743 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9744 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9745 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9746 @code{info frame} command.
9747
9748 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9749 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9750 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9751 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9752 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9753 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9754 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9755 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9756 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9757 local variables in the caller.
9758
9759 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9760 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9761 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9762 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9763 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9764 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9765 instructions are executed.
9766
9767 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9768 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9769 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9770 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9771
9772 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9773 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9774
9775 @itemize @bullet
9776 @item
9777 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9778 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9779 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9780 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9781 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9782 function instead.
9783
9784 @item
9785 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9786 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9787 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9788 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9789 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9790 or inside the inlined function instead.
9791
9792 @item
9793 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9794 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9795 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9796 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9797
9798 @end itemize
9799
9800 @node Tail Call Frames
9801 @section Tail Call Frames
9802 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
9803
9804 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
9805 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
9806 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
9807 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
9808 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
9809
9810 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
9811 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
9812 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
9813 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
9814 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
9815 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
9816 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
9817
9818 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9819 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9820 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9821 this information.
9822
9823 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
9824 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
9825
9826 @smallexample
9827 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
9828 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
9829 (gdb) info frame
9830 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
9831 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
9832 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
9833 source language c++.
9834 Arglist at unknown address.
9835 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
9836 @end smallexample
9837
9838 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
9839 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
9840 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
9841 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
9842 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
9843 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
9844
9845 @table @code
9846 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
9847 @item set debug entry-values
9848 @kindex set debug entry-values
9849 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
9850 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
9851 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
9852 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
9853 result.
9854
9855 @item show debug entry-values
9856 @kindex show debug entry-values
9857 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
9858 values at function entry and tail calls.
9859 @end table
9860
9861 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
9862 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
9863 reference by variable @code{x}):
9864
9865 @smallexample
9866 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
9867 void (*x) (void) = c;
9868 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
9869 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
9870 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
9871
9872 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
9873 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
9874 a () at t.c:3
9875 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
9876 (gdb) bt
9877 #0 a () at t.c:3
9878 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
9879 @end smallexample
9880
9881 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
9882
9883 @smallexample
9884 int i;
9885 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
9886 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
9887 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
9888 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
9889 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
9890 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
9891 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
9892 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
9893
9894 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
9895 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
9896 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
9897 (gdb) bt
9898 #0 f () at t.c:2
9899 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
9900 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
9901 @end smallexample
9902
9903 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
9904 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
9905
9906 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
9907 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
9908 @set ARROW @click{}
9909 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
9910 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
9911 @end ifset
9912 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
9913 @set ARROW ->
9914 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
9915 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
9916 @end ifclear
9917
9918 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
9919 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
9920 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
9921
9922 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
9923 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
9924 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
9925 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
9926 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
9927 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
9928
9929 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
9930 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
9931 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
9932 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
9933 omitted.
9934
9935 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
9936 entry may fail:
9937
9938 @smallexample
9939 int v;
9940 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
9941 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
9942 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
9943 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
9944 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
9945 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
9946
9947 (gdb) bt
9948 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
9949 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
9950 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
9951 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
9952 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
9953 @end smallexample
9954
9955 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
9956 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
9957 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
9958 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
9959 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
9960
9961 @node Macros
9962 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9963
9964 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9965 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9966 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9967 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9968 where it was defined.
9969
9970 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9971 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9972 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9973 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9974
9975 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9976 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9977 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9978 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9979 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9980 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9981 see @ref{List}.
9982
9983 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9984 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9985 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9986
9987 @table @code
9988
9989 @kindex macro expand
9990 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9991 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9992 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9993 @item macro expand @var{expression}
9994 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9995 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9996 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9997 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9998 it can be any string of tokens.
9999
10000 @kindex macro exp1
10001 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
10002 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
10003 @cindex expand macro once
10004 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
10005 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
10006 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
10007 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
10008 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
10009 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
10010 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
10011 can be any string of tokens.
10012
10013 @kindex info macro
10014 @cindex macro definition, showing
10015 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
10016 @cindex macros, from debug info
10017 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
10018 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
10019 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
10020 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
10021 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
10022 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
10023
10024 @kindex info macros
10025 @item info macros @var{linespec}
10026 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
10027 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
10028 command-line where those definitions were established.
10029
10030 @kindex macro define
10031 @cindex user-defined macros
10032 @cindex defining macros interactively
10033 @cindex macros, user-defined
10034 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
10035 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
10036 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
10037 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
10038 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
10039 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
10040 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
10041 @var{arglist}.
10042
10043 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
10044 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
10045 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
10046 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
10047 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
10048
10049 @kindex macro undef
10050 @item macro undef @var{macro}
10051 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
10052 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
10053 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
10054 in the program being debugged.
10055
10056 @kindex macro list
10057 @item macro list
10058 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
10059 @end table
10060
10061 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
10062 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
10063 show our source files:
10064
10065 @smallexample
10066 $ cat sample.c
10067 #include <stdio.h>
10068 #include "sample.h"
10069
10070 #define M 42
10071 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10072
10073 main ()
10074 @{
10075 #define N 28
10076 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10077 #undef N
10078 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10079 #define N 1729
10080 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10081 @}
10082 $ cat sample.h
10083 #define Q <
10084 $
10085 @end smallexample
10086
10087 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
10088 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
10089 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
10090 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
10091 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
10092 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
10093 information.
10094
10095 @smallexample
10096 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
10097 $
10098 @end smallexample
10099
10100 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
10101
10102 @smallexample
10103 $ gdb -nw sample
10104 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
10105 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10106 GDB is free software, @dots{}
10107 (@value{GDBP})
10108 @end smallexample
10109
10110 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
10111 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
10112 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
10113
10114 @smallexample
10115 (@value{GDBP}) list main
10116 3
10117 4 #define M 42
10118 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10119 6
10120 7 main ()
10121 8 @{
10122 9 #define N 28
10123 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10124 11 #undef N
10125 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10126 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
10127 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
10128 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10129 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
10130 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
10131 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
10132 #define Q <
10133 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
10134 expands to: (42 + 1)
10135 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
10136 expands to: once (M + 1)
10137 (@value{GDBP})
10138 @end smallexample
10139
10140 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
10141 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
10142 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
10143 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
10144
10145 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
10146 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
10147
10148 @smallexample
10149 (@value{GDBP}) break main
10150 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
10151 (@value{GDBP}) run
10152 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
10153
10154 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
10155 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10156 (@value{GDBP})
10157 @end smallexample
10158
10159 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
10160
10161 @smallexample
10162 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10163 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
10164 #define N 28
10165 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10166 expands to: 28 < 42
10167 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10168 $1 = 1
10169 (@value{GDBP})
10170 @end smallexample
10171
10172 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
10173 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
10174 thereof) in force at each point:
10175
10176 @smallexample
10177 (@value{GDBP}) next
10178 Hello, world!
10179 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10180 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10181 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
10182 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
10183 (@value{GDBP}) next
10184 We're so creative.
10185 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10186 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10187 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
10188 #define N 1729
10189 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10190 expands to: 1729 < 42
10191 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10192 $2 = 0
10193 (@value{GDBP})
10194 @end smallexample
10195
10196 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
10197 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
10198 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
10199 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
10200
10201 @smallexample
10202 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
10203 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
10204 -D__STDC__=1
10205 (@value{GDBP})
10206 @end smallexample
10207
10208
10209 @node Tracepoints
10210 @chapter Tracepoints
10211 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
10212 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
10213
10214 @cindex tracepoints
10215 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
10216 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
10217 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
10218 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
10219 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
10220 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
10221 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
10222
10223 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
10224 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
10225 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
10226 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
10227 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
10228 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
10229 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
10230 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
10231 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
10232 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
10233 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
10234
10235 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
10236 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
10237 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
10238 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
10239 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
10240 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
10241 Packets}.
10242
10243 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
10244 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
10245 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
10246
10247 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
10248
10249 @menu
10250 * Set Tracepoints::
10251 * Analyze Collected Data::
10252 * Tracepoint Variables::
10253 * Trace Files::
10254 @end menu
10255
10256 @node Set Tracepoints
10257 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
10258
10259 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
10260 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
10261 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
10262 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
10263 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
10264 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
10265 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
10266
10267 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
10268 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
10269 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
10270 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
10271 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
10272 tracepoint was hit.
10273
10274 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
10275 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
10276 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
10277 either.
10278
10279 @cindex fast tracepoints
10280 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
10281 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
10282 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
10283
10284 @cindex static tracepoints
10285 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
10286 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
10287 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
10288 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
10289 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
10290 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
10291 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
10292 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
10293 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
10294 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
10295 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
10296 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
10297 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
10298 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
10299 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
10300 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
10301 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
10302 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
10303 static tracepoint marker.
10304
10305 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
10306 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
10307
10308 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
10309 conditions and actions.
10310
10311 @menu
10312 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
10313 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
10314 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
10315 * Tracepoint Conditions::
10316 * Trace State Variables::
10317 * Tracepoint Actions::
10318 * Listing Tracepoints::
10319 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
10320 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
10321 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
10322 @end menu
10323
10324 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
10325 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
10326
10327 @table @code
10328 @cindex set tracepoint
10329 @kindex trace
10330 @item trace @var{location}
10331 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
10332 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
10333 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
10334 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
10335 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
10336 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
10337 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
10338 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
10339 in tracing}).
10340 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
10341 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
10342 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
10343 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
10344
10345 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
10346
10347 @smallexample
10348 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
10349
10350 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
10351
10352 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
10353
10354 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
10355
10356 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
10357 @end smallexample
10358
10359 @noindent
10360 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
10361
10362 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
10363 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
10364 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
10365 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
10366 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
10367 information on tracepoint conditions.
10368
10369 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10370 @cindex set fast tracepoint
10371 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
10372 @kindex ftrace
10373 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
10374 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
10375 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
10376 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
10377 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
10378 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
10379 message.
10380
10381 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
10382 @code{trace}.
10383
10384 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
10385 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
10386 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
10387 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
10388 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
10389 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
10390 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
10391 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
10392
10393 @example
10394 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
10395 @end example
10396
10397 @noindent
10398 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
10399 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
10400
10401 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10402 @cindex set static tracepoint
10403 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
10404 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
10405 @kindex strace
10406 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
10407 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
10408 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
10409 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
10410 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
10411
10412 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
10413 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
10414 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
10415 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
10416 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
10417 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
10418 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
10419 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
10420 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
10421 tracing engine:
10422
10423 @smallexample
10424 main ()
10425 @{
10426 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
10427 @}
10428 @end smallexample
10429
10430 @noindent
10431 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
10432 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
10433
10434 @smallexample
10435 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10436 Cnt Enb ID Address What
10437 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
10438 Data: "str %s"
10439 [etc...]
10440 @end smallexample
10441
10442 @noindent
10443 so you may probe the marker above with:
10444
10445 @smallexample
10446 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
10447 @end smallexample
10448
10449 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
10450 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
10451 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
10452 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
10453 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
10454 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
10455 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
10456 the @samp{Data:} field.
10457
10458 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
10459 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
10460 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
10461
10462 @vindex $tpnum
10463 @cindex last tracepoint number
10464 @cindex recent tracepoint number
10465 @cindex tracepoint number
10466 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
10467 of the most recently set tracepoint.
10468
10469 @kindex delete tracepoint
10470 @cindex tracepoint deletion
10471 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10472 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
10473 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
10474 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
10475
10476 Examples:
10477
10478 @smallexample
10479 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
10480
10481 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
10482 @end smallexample
10483
10484 @noindent
10485 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
10486 @end table
10487
10488 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10489 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10490
10491 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
10492
10493 @table @code
10494 @kindex disable tracepoint
10495 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10496 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
10497 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
10498 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
10499 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
10500 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
10501 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
10502 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
10503 next trace experiment.
10504
10505 @kindex enable tracepoint
10506 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10507 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
10508 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
10509 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
10510 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
10511 next time a trace experiment is run.
10512 @end table
10513
10514 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
10515 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
10516
10517 @table @code
10518 @kindex passcount
10519 @cindex tracepoint pass count
10520 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
10521 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
10522 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
10523 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
10524 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
10525 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
10526 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
10527 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
10528 user.
10529
10530 Examples:
10531
10532 @smallexample
10533 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
10534 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
10535
10536 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
10537 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
10538 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10539 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
10540 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
10541 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
10542 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
10543 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
10544 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
10545 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
10546 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
10547 @end smallexample
10548 @end table
10549
10550 @node Tracepoint Conditions
10551 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
10552 @cindex conditional tracepoints
10553 @cindex tracepoint conditions
10554
10555 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
10556 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
10557 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
10558 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
10559 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
10560 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
10561 is true.
10562
10563 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
10564 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
10565 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
10566 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
10567 just as with breakpoints.
10568
10569 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
10570 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
10571 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
10572 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
10573 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
10574 accesses, and so forth.
10575
10576 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
10577 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
10578 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
10579 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
10580 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
10581 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
10582 search through.
10583
10584 @smallexample
10585 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
10586 @end smallexample
10587
10588 @node Trace State Variables
10589 @subsection Trace State Variables
10590 @cindex trace state variables
10591
10592 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
10593 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
10594 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
10595 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
10596 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
10597 integers.
10598
10599 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
10600 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
10601 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
10602 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
10603
10604 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
10605 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
10606 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
10607 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
10608 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
10609 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
10610 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
10611 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
10612 variable with the same name.
10613
10614 @table @code
10615
10616 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
10617 @kindex tvariable
10618 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
10619 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
10620 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
10621 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
10622 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
10623 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
10624 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
10625 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
10626 value. The default initial value is 0.
10627
10628 @item info tvariables
10629 @kindex info tvariables
10630 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
10631 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
10632 currently running.
10633
10634 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
10635 @kindex delete tvariable
10636 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
10637 are specified.
10638
10639 @end table
10640
10641 @node Tracepoint Actions
10642 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
10643
10644 @table @code
10645 @kindex actions
10646 @cindex tracepoint actions
10647 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10648 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
10649 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
10650 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
10651 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
10652 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
10653 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
10654 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
10655 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
10656 @code{while-stepping}.
10657
10658 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
10659 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
10660 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
10661
10662 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
10663 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
10664 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
10665
10666 @smallexample
10667 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
10668
10669 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
10670
10671 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
10672 @end smallexample
10673
10674 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
10675 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
10676 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
10677 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
10678 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
10679 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
10680 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
10681 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
10682
10683 @smallexample
10684 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10685 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10686 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
10687 > collect bar,baz
10688 > collect $regs
10689 > while-stepping 12
10690 > collect $pc, arr[i]
10691 > end
10692 end
10693 @end smallexample
10694
10695 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
10696 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10697 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
10698 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
10699 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
10700 special arguments are supported:
10701
10702 @table @code
10703 @item $regs
10704 Collect all registers.
10705
10706 @item $args
10707 Collect all function arguments.
10708
10709 @item $locals
10710 Collect all local variables.
10711
10712 @item $_ret
10713 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
10714 of a backtrace.
10715
10716 @item $_sdata
10717 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
10718 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
10719 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
10720 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
10721 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
10722 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
10723 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
10724 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
10725 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
10726
10727 @smallexample
10728 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
10729 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
10730 @end smallexample
10731
10732 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
10733 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
10734 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
10735 @value{GDBN}.
10736 @end table
10737
10738 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
10739 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
10740 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
10741
10742 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
10743 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
10744 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
10745 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
10746 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
10747 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
10748 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
10749 @samp{mystr}.
10750
10751 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
10752 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
10753
10754 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
10755 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10756 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
10757 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
10758 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
10759 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
10760 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
10761 action were used.
10762
10763 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
10764 @item while-stepping @var{n}
10765 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
10766 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
10767 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
10768 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
10769
10770 @smallexample
10771 > while-stepping 12
10772 > collect $regs, myglobal
10773 > end
10774 >
10775 @end smallexample
10776
10777 @noindent
10778 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
10779 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
10780 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
10781 @code{stepping}.
10782
10783 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10784 @kindex set default-collect
10785 @cindex default collection action
10786 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
10787 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
10788 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
10789 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
10790 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
10791 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
10792
10793 @item show default-collect
10794 @kindex show default-collect
10795 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
10796 tracepoint hit.
10797
10798 @end table
10799
10800 @node Listing Tracepoints
10801 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
10802
10803 @table @code
10804 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
10805 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
10806 @cindex information about tracepoints
10807 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
10808 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
10809 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
10810 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
10811 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
10812 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
10813
10814 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
10815 tracing:
10816
10817 @itemize @bullet
10818 @item
10819 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
10820 @end itemize
10821
10822 @smallexample
10823 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
10824 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
10825 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
10826 while-stepping 20
10827 collect globfoo, $regs
10828 end
10829 collect globfoo2
10830 end
10831 pass count 1200
10832 (@value{GDBP})
10833 @end smallexample
10834
10835 @noindent
10836 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
10837 @end table
10838
10839 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10840 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10841
10842 @table @code
10843 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
10844 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
10845 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
10846 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
10847 program.
10848
10849 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
10850
10851 @table @emph
10852 @item Count
10853 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
10854 stable identifier.
10855 @item ID
10856 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
10857 @item Enabled or Disabled
10858 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
10859 that are not enabled.
10860 @item Address
10861 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
10862 @item What
10863 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
10864 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
10865 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
10866 will be left blank.
10867 @end table
10868
10869 @noindent
10870 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
10871
10872 @table @emph
10873 @item Data
10874 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
10875 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
10876 marker call.
10877 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
10878 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
10879 @end table
10880
10881 @smallexample
10882 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10883 Cnt ID Enb Address What
10884 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
10885 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
10886 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
10887 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
10888 Data: str %s
10889 (@value{GDBP})
10890 @end smallexample
10891 @end table
10892
10893 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10894 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10895
10896 @table @code
10897 @kindex tstart
10898 @cindex start a new trace experiment
10899 @cindex collected data discarded
10900 @item tstart
10901 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
10902 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
10903 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
10904 experiment.
10905
10906 @kindex tstop
10907 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
10908 @item tstop
10909 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
10910 stops collecting data.
10911
10912 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
10913 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
10914 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
10915
10916 @kindex tstatus
10917 @cindex status of trace data collection
10918 @cindex trace experiment, status of
10919 @item tstatus
10920 This command displays the status of the current trace data
10921 collection.
10922 @end table
10923
10924 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
10925
10926 @smallexample
10927 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
10928 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10929 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
10930 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
10931 > while-stepping 11
10932 > collect $regs
10933 > end
10934 > end
10935 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10936 [time passes @dots{}]
10937 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
10938 @end smallexample
10939
10940 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
10941 @cindex disconnected tracing
10942 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
10943 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
10944 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
10945 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
10946 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
10947 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
10948 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
10949 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
10950
10951 @table @code
10952 @item set disconnected-tracing on
10953 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
10954 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
10955 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
10956 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
10957 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
10958 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
10959 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
10960
10961 @item show disconnected-tracing
10962 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
10963 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
10964
10965 @end table
10966
10967 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
10968 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
10969 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
10970 it will continue after reconnection.
10971
10972 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
10973 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
10974 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
10975 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
10976 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
10977 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
10978 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
10979 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
10980 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
10981 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
10982
10983 @cindex circular trace buffer
10984 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
10985 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
10986 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
10987 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
10988 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
10989 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
10990 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
10991 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
10992 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
10993 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
10994 the next run.
10995
10996 @table @code
10997 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
10998 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
10999 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
11000 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
11001 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
11002 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
11003 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
11004
11005 @item show circular-trace-buffer
11006 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
11007 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
11008 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
11009 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
11010 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
11011
11012 @end table
11013
11014 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
11015 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
11016
11017 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
11018 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
11019 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
11020 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
11021 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
11022 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
11023 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
11024 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
11025 mentioned here.
11026
11027 @itemize @bullet
11028
11029 @item
11030 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
11031 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
11032 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
11033 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
11034 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
11035 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
11036 cannot be collected either.
11037
11038 @item
11039 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
11040 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
11041 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
11042 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
11043 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
11044 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
11045 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
11046 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
11047 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
11048 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
11049
11050 @item
11051 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
11052 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
11053 in a misleading way.
11054
11055 @item
11056 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
11057 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
11058 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
11059 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
11060 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
11061 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
11062 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
11063 by @code{ptr}.
11064
11065 @item
11066 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
11067 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
11068 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
11069 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
11070 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
11071 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
11072 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
11073 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
11074 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
11075 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
11076 invalid address.
11077
11078 @item
11079 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
11080 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
11081 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
11082 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
11083 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
11084 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
11085 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
11086 it to zero.
11087
11088 @end itemize
11089
11090 @node Analyze Collected Data
11091 @section Using the Collected Data
11092
11093 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
11094 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
11095 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
11096 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
11097 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
11098 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
11099 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
11100 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
11101 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
11102 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
11103 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
11104 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
11105 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
11106 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
11107 the buffer will fail.
11108
11109 @menu
11110 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
11111 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
11112 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
11113 @end menu
11114
11115 @node tfind
11116 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
11117
11118 @kindex tfind
11119 @cindex select trace snapshot
11120 @cindex find trace snapshot
11121 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
11122 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
11123 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
11124 snapshot is selected.
11125
11126 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
11127
11128 @table @code
11129 @item tfind start
11130 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
11131 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
11132
11133 @item tfind none
11134 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
11135
11136 @item tfind end
11137 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
11138
11139 @item tfind
11140 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
11141
11142 @item tfind -
11143 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
11144 retracing earlier steps.
11145
11146 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
11147 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
11148 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
11149 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
11150 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
11151
11152 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
11153 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
11154 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
11155 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
11156 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
11157
11158 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11159 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
11160 addresses (exclusive).
11161
11162 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11163 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
11164 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
11165
11166 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
11167 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
11168 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
11169 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
11170 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
11171 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
11172 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
11173 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
11174 @end table
11175
11176 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
11177 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
11178 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
11179 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
11180 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
11181 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
11182 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
11183 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
11184 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
11185 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
11186 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
11187 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
11188 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
11189 tracepoint as the current one.
11190
11191 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
11192 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
11193 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
11194 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
11195 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
11196
11197 @smallexample
11198 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11199 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11200 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
11201 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
11202 > tfind
11203 > end
11204
11205 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
11206 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
11207 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
11208 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
11209 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
11210 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
11211 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
11212 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
11213 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
11214 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
11215 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
11216 @end smallexample
11217
11218 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
11219 the buffer:
11220
11221 @smallexample
11222 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11223 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11224 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
11225 > tfind line
11226 > end
11227
11228 Frame 0, X = 1
11229 Frame 7, X = 2
11230 Frame 13, X = 255
11231 @end smallexample
11232
11233 @node tdump
11234 @subsection @code{tdump}
11235 @kindex tdump
11236 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
11237 @cindex tracepoint data, display
11238
11239 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
11240 the current trace snapshot.
11241
11242 @smallexample
11243 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
11244 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11245 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
11246 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
11247 > end
11248
11249 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11250
11251 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
11252 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
11253 at gdb_test.c:444
11254 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
11255
11256 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
11257 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
11258 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
11259 d1 0x18 24
11260 d2 0x80 128
11261 d3 0x33 51
11262 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
11263 d5 0x22 34
11264 d6 0xe0 224
11265 d7 0x380035 3670069
11266 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
11267 a1 0x3000668 50333288
11268 a2 0x100 256
11269 a3 0x322000 3284992
11270 a4 0x3000698 50333336
11271 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
11272 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
11273 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
11274 ps 0x0 0
11275 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
11276 fpcontrol 0x0 0
11277 fpstatus 0x0 0
11278 fpiaddr 0x0 0
11279 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
11280 p1 = (void *) 0x11
11281 p2 = (void *) 0x22
11282 p3 = (void *) 0x33
11283 p4 = (void *) 0x44
11284 p5 = (void *) 0x55
11285 p6 = (void *) 0x66
11286 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
11287
11288 (@value{GDBP})
11289 @end smallexample
11290
11291 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
11292 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
11293 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
11294 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
11295
11296 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
11297 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
11298 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
11299 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
11300 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
11301 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
11302 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
11303 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
11304 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
11305 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
11306
11307 @node save tracepoints
11308 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
11309 @kindex save tracepoints
11310 @kindex save-tracepoints
11311 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
11312
11313 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
11314 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
11315 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
11316 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
11317 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
11318 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
11319
11320 @node Tracepoint Variables
11321 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
11322 @cindex tracepoint variables
11323 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
11324
11325 @table @code
11326 @vindex $trace_frame
11327 @item (int) $trace_frame
11328 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
11329 snapshot is selected.
11330
11331 @vindex $tracepoint
11332 @item (int) $tracepoint
11333 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
11334
11335 @vindex $trace_line
11336 @item (int) $trace_line
11337 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
11338
11339 @vindex $trace_file
11340 @item (char []) $trace_file
11341 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
11342
11343 @vindex $trace_func
11344 @item (char []) $trace_func
11345 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
11346 @end table
11347
11348 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
11349 use @code{output} instead.
11350
11351 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
11352 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
11353 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
11354 which are managed by the target.
11355
11356 @smallexample
11357 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11358
11359 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
11360 > output $trace_file
11361 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
11362 > tfind
11363 > end
11364 @end smallexample
11365
11366 @node Trace Files
11367 @section Using Trace Files
11368 @cindex trace files
11369
11370 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
11371 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
11372 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
11373 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
11374 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
11375
11376 @table @code
11377
11378 @kindex tsave
11379 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
11380 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
11381 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
11382 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
11383 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
11384 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
11385 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
11386 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
11387 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
11388
11389 @kindex target tfile
11390 @kindex tfile
11391 @item target tfile @var{filename}
11392 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
11393 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
11394 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
11395 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
11396 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
11397 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
11398
11399 @end table
11400
11401 @node Overlays
11402 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
11403 @cindex overlays
11404
11405 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
11406 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
11407 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
11408 use overlays.
11409
11410 @menu
11411 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
11412 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
11413 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
11414 mapped by asking the inferior.
11415 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
11416 @end menu
11417
11418 @node How Overlays Work
11419 @section How Overlays Work
11420 @cindex mapped overlays
11421 @cindex unmapped overlays
11422 @cindex load address, overlay's
11423 @cindex mapped address
11424 @cindex overlay area
11425
11426 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
11427 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
11428 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
11429 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
11430 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
11431
11432 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
11433 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
11434 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
11435 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
11436 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
11437 largest overlay as well.
11438
11439 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
11440 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
11441 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
11442 there.
11443
11444 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
11445 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
11446 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
11447
11448 @smallexample
11449 @group
11450 Data Instruction Larger
11451 Address Space Address Space Address Space
11452 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
11453 | | | | | |
11454 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
11455 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
11456 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
11457 | and heap | | | | | |
11458 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
11459 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
11460 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
11461 | | | | | |
11462 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
11463 address | | | | | |
11464 | overlay | <-' | | |
11465 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
11466 | | <---. | | load address
11467 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
11468 | | | |
11469 +-----------+ | |
11470 +-----------+
11471 | |
11472 +-----------+
11473
11474 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
11475 @end group
11476 @end smallexample
11477
11478 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
11479 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
11480 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
11481 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
11482 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
11483 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
11484 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
11485 program and the overlay area.
11486
11487 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
11488 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
11489 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
11490 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
11491 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
11492 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
11493 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
11494
11495 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
11496 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
11497 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
11498
11499 @itemize @bullet
11500
11501 @item
11502 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
11503 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
11504 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
11505 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
11506
11507 @item
11508 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
11509 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
11510 your program's performance.
11511
11512 @item
11513 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
11514 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
11515 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
11516 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
11517 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
11518 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
11519 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
11520
11521 @item
11522 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
11523 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
11524 instruction and data spaces.
11525
11526 @end itemize
11527
11528 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
11529 improved in many ways:
11530
11531 @itemize @bullet
11532
11533 @item
11534 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
11535 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
11536 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
11537 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
11538 area in the usual way.
11539
11540 @item
11541 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
11542 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
11543
11544 @item
11545 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
11546 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
11547 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
11548 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
11549 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
11550 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
11551 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
11552
11553 @end itemize
11554
11555
11556 @node Overlay Commands
11557 @section Overlay Commands
11558
11559 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
11560 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
11561 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
11562 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
11563 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
11564 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
11565
11566 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
11567 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
11568
11569 @table @code
11570 @item overlay off
11571 @kindex overlay
11572 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
11573 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
11574 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
11575 overlay support is disabled.
11576
11577 @item overlay manual
11578 @cindex manual overlay debugging
11579 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11580 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
11581 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
11582 commands described below.
11583
11584 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
11585 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
11586 @cindex map an overlay
11587 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
11588 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
11589 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
11590 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
11591 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
11592 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
11593
11594 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
11595 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
11596 @cindex unmap an overlay
11597 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
11598 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
11599 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
11600 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
11601
11602 @item overlay auto
11603 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11604 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
11605 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
11606 Overlay Debugging}.
11607
11608 @item overlay load-target
11609 @itemx overlay load
11610 @cindex reloading the overlay table
11611 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
11612 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
11613 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
11614 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
11615 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
11616
11617 @item overlay list-overlays
11618 @itemx overlay list
11619 @cindex listing mapped overlays
11620 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
11621 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
11622
11623 @end table
11624
11625 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
11626 of the function the address falls in:
11627
11628 @smallexample
11629 (@value{GDBP}) print main
11630 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
11631 @end smallexample
11632 @noindent
11633 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
11634 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
11635 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
11636 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
11637
11638 @smallexample
11639 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11640 No sections are mapped.
11641 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11642 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
11643 @end smallexample
11644 @noindent
11645 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
11646 name normally:
11647
11648 @smallexample
11649 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11650 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
11651 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
11652 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11653 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
11654 @end smallexample
11655
11656 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
11657 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
11658 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
11659 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
11660 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
11661
11662 @itemize @bullet
11663 @item
11664 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
11665 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
11666 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
11667 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
11668 @item
11669 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
11670 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
11671 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
11672 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
11673 breakpoints properly.
11674 @end itemize
11675
11676
11677 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
11678 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
11679 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
11680
11681 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
11682 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
11683 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
11684 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
11685 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
11686 current state of the overlays.
11687
11688 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
11689 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
11690
11691 @table @asis
11692
11693 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
11694 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
11695
11696 @smallexample
11697 struct
11698 @{
11699 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
11700 unsigned long vma;
11701
11702 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
11703 unsigned long size;
11704
11705 /* The overlay's load address. */
11706 unsigned long lma;
11707
11708 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
11709 zero otherwise. */
11710 unsigned long mapped;
11711 @}
11712 @end smallexample
11713
11714 @item @code{_novlys}:
11715 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
11716 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
11717
11718 @end table
11719
11720 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
11721 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
11722 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
11723 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
11724 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
11725 currently mapped.
11726
11727 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
11728 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
11729 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
11730 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
11731 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
11732 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
11733 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
11734 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
11735 are not being executed.
11736
11737 @node Overlay Sample Program
11738 @section Overlay Sample Program
11739 @cindex overlay example program
11740
11741 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
11742 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
11743 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
11744 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
11745 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
11746 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
11747 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
11748
11749 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
11750 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
11751 suite. The program consists of the following files from
11752 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
11753
11754 @table @file
11755 @item overlays.c
11756 The main program file.
11757 @item ovlymgr.c
11758 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
11759 @item foo.c
11760 @itemx bar.c
11761 @itemx baz.c
11762 @itemx grbx.c
11763 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
11764 @item d10v.ld
11765 @itemx m32r.ld
11766 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
11767 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
11768 @end table
11769
11770 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
11771 cross-compiler like this:
11772
11773 @smallexample
11774 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
11775 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
11776 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
11777 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
11778 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
11779 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
11780 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
11781 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
11782 @end smallexample
11783
11784 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
11785 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
11786 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
11787
11788
11789 @node Languages
11790 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
11791 @cindex languages
11792
11793 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
11794 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
11795 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
11796 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
11797 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
11798 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
11799
11800 @cindex working language
11801 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
11802 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
11803 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
11804 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
11805 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
11806 language}.
11807
11808 @menu
11809 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
11810 * Show:: Displaying the language
11811 * Checks:: Type and range checks
11812 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
11813 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
11814 @end menu
11815
11816 @node Setting
11817 @section Switching Between Source Languages
11818
11819 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
11820 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
11821 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
11822 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
11823 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
11824 are printed, etc.
11825
11826 In addition to the working language, every source file that
11827 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
11828 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
11829 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
11830 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
11831 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
11832 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
11833 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
11834 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
11835 Displaying the Language}.
11836
11837 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
11838 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
11839 another language. In that case, make the
11840 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
11841 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
11842 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
11843
11844 @menu
11845 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
11846 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
11847 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
11848 @end menu
11849
11850 @node Filenames
11851 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
11852
11853 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
11854 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
11855
11856 @table @file
11857 @item .ada
11858 @itemx .ads
11859 @itemx .adb
11860 @itemx .a
11861 Ada source file.
11862
11863 @item .c
11864 C source file
11865
11866 @item .C
11867 @itemx .cc
11868 @itemx .cp
11869 @itemx .cpp
11870 @itemx .cxx
11871 @itemx .c++
11872 C@t{++} source file
11873
11874 @item .d
11875 D source file
11876
11877 @item .m
11878 Objective-C source file
11879
11880 @item .f
11881 @itemx .F
11882 Fortran source file
11883
11884 @item .mod
11885 Modula-2 source file
11886
11887 @item .s
11888 @itemx .S
11889 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
11890 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
11891 @end table
11892
11893 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
11894 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
11895
11896 @node Manually
11897 @subsection Setting the Working Language
11898
11899 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
11900 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
11901 your program.
11902
11903 @kindex set language
11904 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
11905 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
11906 a language, such as
11907 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
11908 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
11909
11910 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
11911 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
11912 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
11913 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
11914 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
11915 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
11916 command such as:
11917
11918 @smallexample
11919 print a = b + c
11920 @end smallexample
11921
11922 @noindent
11923 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
11924 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
11925 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
11926 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
11927
11928 @node Automatically
11929 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
11930
11931 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
11932 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
11933 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
11934 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
11935 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
11936 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
11937 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
11938 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
11939 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
11940
11941 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
11942 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
11943 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
11944 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
11945 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
11946
11947 @node Show
11948 @section Displaying the Language
11949
11950 The following commands help you find out which language is the
11951 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
11952
11953 @table @code
11954 @item show language
11955 @kindex show language
11956 Display the current working language. This is the
11957 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
11958 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
11959
11960 @item info frame
11961 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
11962 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
11963 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
11964 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
11965 information listed here.
11966
11967 @item info source
11968 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
11969 Display the source language of this source file.
11970 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
11971 information listed here.
11972 @end table
11973
11974 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
11975 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
11976 with a language explicitly:
11977
11978 @table @code
11979 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
11980 @kindex set extension-language
11981 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
11982 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
11983
11984 @item info extensions
11985 @kindex info extensions
11986 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
11987 @end table
11988
11989 @node Checks
11990 @section Type and Range Checking
11991
11992 @quotation
11993 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
11994 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
11995 section documents the intended facilities.
11996 @end quotation
11997 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
11998
11999 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
12000 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
12001 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
12002 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
12003 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
12004 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
12005 errors when your program is running.
12006
12007 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
12008 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
12009 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
12010 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
12011 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
12012 automatically based on your program's source language.
12013 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
12014 settings of supported languages.
12015
12016 @menu
12017 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
12018 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
12019 @end menu
12020
12021 @cindex type checking
12022 @cindex checks, type
12023 @node Type Checking
12024 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
12025
12026 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
12027 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
12028 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
12029 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
12030
12031 @smallexample
12032 1 + 2 @result{} 3
12033 @exdent but
12034 @error{} 1 + 2.3
12035 @end smallexample
12036
12037 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
12038 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
12039
12040 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
12041 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
12042 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
12043 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
12044 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
12045 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
12046 also issues a warning.
12047
12048 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
12049 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
12050 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
12051 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
12052 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
12053 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
12054
12055 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
12056 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
12057 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
12058 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
12059 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
12060 details on specific languages.
12061
12062 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
12063
12064 @kindex set check type
12065 @kindex show check type
12066 @table @code
12067 @item set check type auto
12068 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
12069 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12070 each language.
12071
12072 @item set check type on
12073 @itemx set check type off
12074 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12075 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
12076 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
12077 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
12078 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
12079
12080 @item set check type warn
12081 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
12082 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
12083 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
12084 numbers and structures.
12085
12086 @item show type
12087 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
12088 is setting it automatically.
12089 @end table
12090
12091 @cindex range checking
12092 @cindex checks, range
12093 @node Range Checking
12094 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
12095
12096 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
12097 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
12098 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
12099 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
12100 not exceed the bounds of the array.
12101
12102 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12103 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
12104 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
12105 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
12106
12107 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
12108 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
12109 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
12110 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
12111 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
12112 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
12113
12114 @smallexample
12115 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
12116 @end smallexample
12117
12118 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
12119 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
12120 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
12121
12122 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
12123
12124 @kindex set check range
12125 @kindex show check range
12126 @table @code
12127 @item set check range auto
12128 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
12129 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12130 each language.
12131
12132 @item set check range on
12133 @itemx set check range off
12134 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12135 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
12136 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
12137 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
12138
12139 @item set check range warn
12140 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
12141 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
12142 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
12143 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
12144 systems).
12145
12146 @item show range
12147 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
12148 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
12149 @end table
12150
12151 @node Supported Languages
12152 @section Supported Languages
12153
12154 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, OpenCL C, Pascal,
12155 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
12156 @c This is false ...
12157 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
12158 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
12159 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
12160 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
12161 language.
12162
12163 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
12164 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
12165 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
12166 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
12167 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
12168 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
12169 language reference or tutorial.
12170
12171 @menu
12172 * C:: C and C@t{++}
12173 * D:: D
12174 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
12175 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
12176 * Fortran:: Fortran
12177 * Pascal:: Pascal
12178 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
12179 * Ada:: Ada
12180 @end menu
12181
12182 @node C
12183 @subsection C and C@t{++}
12184
12185 @cindex C and C@t{++}
12186 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
12187
12188 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
12189 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
12190 together.
12191
12192 @cindex C@t{++}
12193 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
12194 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
12195 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
12196 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
12197 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
12198 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
12199 compiler (@code{aCC}).
12200
12201 @menu
12202 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
12203 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
12204 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
12205 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
12206 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
12207 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
12208 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
12209 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
12210 @end menu
12211
12212 @node C Operators
12213 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
12214
12215 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
12216
12217 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12218 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12219 often defined on groups of types.
12220
12221 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
12222
12223 @itemize @bullet
12224
12225 @item
12226 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
12227 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
12228
12229 @item
12230 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
12231 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
12232
12233 @item
12234 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
12235
12236 @item
12237 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
12238
12239 @end itemize
12240
12241 @noindent
12242 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
12243 in order of increasing precedence:
12244
12245 @table @code
12246 @item ,
12247 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
12248 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
12249 expression being the last expression evaluated.
12250
12251 @item =
12252 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
12253 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
12254
12255 @item @var{op}=
12256 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
12257 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
12258 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
12259 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
12260 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
12261
12262 @item ?:
12263 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
12264 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
12265 integral type.
12266
12267 @item ||
12268 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12269
12270 @item &&
12271 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12272
12273 @item |
12274 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12275
12276 @item ^
12277 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12278
12279 @item &
12280 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12281
12282 @item ==@r{, }!=
12283 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
12284 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
12285
12286 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
12287 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
12288 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
12289 and non-zero for true.
12290
12291 @item <<@r{, }>>
12292 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
12293
12294 @item @@
12295 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12296
12297 @item +@r{, }-
12298 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
12299 pointer types.
12300
12301 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
12302 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
12303 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
12304 integral types.
12305
12306 @item ++@r{, }--
12307 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
12308 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
12309 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
12310 operation takes place.
12311
12312 @item *
12313 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
12314 @code{++}.
12315
12316 @item &
12317 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
12318
12319 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
12320 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
12321 to examine the address
12322 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
12323 stored.
12324
12325 @item -
12326 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
12327 precedence as @code{++}.
12328
12329 @item !
12330 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12331 @code{++}.
12332
12333 @item ~
12334 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12335 @code{++}.
12336
12337
12338 @item .@r{, }->
12339 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
12340 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
12341 pointer based on the stored type information.
12342 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
12343
12344 @item .*@r{, }->*
12345 Dereferences of pointers to members.
12346
12347 @item []
12348 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
12349 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12350
12351 @item ()
12352 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12353
12354 @item ::
12355 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
12356 and @code{class} types.
12357
12358 @item ::
12359 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
12360 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
12361 above.
12362 @end table
12363
12364 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
12365 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
12366 predefined meaning.
12367
12368 @node C Constants
12369 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
12370
12371 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
12372
12373 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
12374 following ways:
12375
12376 @itemize @bullet
12377 @item
12378 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
12379 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
12380 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
12381 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
12382 @code{long} value.
12383
12384 @item
12385 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
12386 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
12387 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
12388 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
12389 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
12390 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
12391 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
12392 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
12393 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
12394 constant.
12395
12396 @item
12397 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
12398 integral equivalents.
12399
12400 @item
12401 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
12402 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
12403 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
12404 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
12405 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
12406 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
12407 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
12408 @samp{\n} for newline.
12409
12410 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
12411 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
12412 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
12413 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
12414
12415 @item
12416 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
12417 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
12418 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
12419 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
12420 characters.
12421
12422 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
12423 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
12424 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
12425
12426 @item
12427 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
12428 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
12429
12430 @item
12431 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
12432 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
12433 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
12434 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
12435 @end itemize
12436
12437 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
12438 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
12439
12440 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
12441 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
12442
12443 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
12444 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
12445 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
12446 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
12447 @quotation
12448 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
12449 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
12450 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
12451 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
12452 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
12453 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
12454 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
12455 code. @xref{Compilation}.
12456 @end quotation
12457
12458 @enumerate
12459
12460 @cindex member functions
12461 @item
12462 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
12463
12464 @smallexample
12465 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
12466 @end smallexample
12467
12468 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
12469 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
12470 @item
12471 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
12472 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
12473 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
12474 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
12475 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
12476
12477 @cindex call overloaded functions
12478 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
12479 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
12480 @item
12481 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
12482 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
12483 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
12484 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
12485 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
12486 default arguments.
12487
12488 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
12489 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
12490 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
12491 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
12492 number of function arguments.
12493
12494 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
12495 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
12496 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
12497
12498 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
12499 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
12500 @smallexample
12501 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
12502 @end smallexample
12503
12504 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
12505 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
12506
12507 @cindex reference declarations
12508 @item
12509 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
12510 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
12511 dereferenced.
12512
12513 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
12514 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
12515 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
12516 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
12517 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
12518
12519 @item
12520 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
12521 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
12522 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
12523 necessary, for example in an expression like
12524 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
12525 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
12526 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
12527
12528 @item
12529 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
12530 specification.
12531 @end enumerate
12532
12533 @node C Defaults
12534 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
12535
12536 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
12537
12538 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
12539 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
12540 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12541 selects the working language.
12542
12543 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
12544 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
12545 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
12546 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
12547 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
12548 for further details.
12549
12550 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
12551 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
12552 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
12553
12554 @node C Checks
12555 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
12556
12557 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
12558
12559 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
12560 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
12561 considers two variables type equivalent if:
12562
12563 @itemize @bullet
12564 @item
12565 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
12566 enumerated tag.
12567
12568 @item
12569 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
12570 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
12571
12572 @ignore
12573 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
12574 @c FIXME--beers?
12575 @item
12576 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
12577 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
12578 compilers.)
12579 @end ignore
12580 @end itemize
12581
12582 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
12583 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
12584 that is not itself an array.
12585
12586 @node Debugging C
12587 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
12588
12589 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
12590 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
12591 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
12592 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
12593
12594 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
12595 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
12596 ,Expressions}.
12597
12598 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
12599 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
12600
12601 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
12602
12603 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
12604 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
12605
12606 @table @code
12607 @cindex break in overloaded functions
12608 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
12609 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
12610 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
12611 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
12612 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
12613
12614 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
12615 @item rbreak @var{regex}
12616 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
12617 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
12618 classes.
12619 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
12620
12621 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
12622 @item catch throw
12623 @itemx catch catch
12624 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
12625 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
12626
12627 @cindex inheritance
12628 @item ptype @var{typename}
12629 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
12630 @var{typename}.
12631 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
12632
12633 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
12634 @item set print demangle
12635 @itemx show print demangle
12636 @itemx set print asm-demangle
12637 @itemx show print asm-demangle
12638 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
12639 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
12640 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12641
12642 @item set print object
12643 @itemx show print object
12644 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
12645 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12646
12647 @item set print vtbl
12648 @itemx show print vtbl
12649 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
12650 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12651 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
12652 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
12653
12654 @kindex set overload-resolution
12655 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
12656 @item set overload-resolution on
12657 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
12658 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
12659 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
12660 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
12661 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
12662 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
12663
12664 @item set overload-resolution off
12665 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
12666 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12667 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
12668 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
12669 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12670 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
12671 argument types.
12672
12673 @kindex show overload-resolution
12674 @item show overload-resolution
12675 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
12676
12677 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
12678 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
12679 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
12680 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
12681 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
12682 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
12683 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
12684 @end table
12685
12686 @node Decimal Floating Point
12687 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
12688 @cindex decimal floating point format
12689
12690 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
12691 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
12692 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
12693 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
12694
12695 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
12696 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
12697 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
12698 target.
12699
12700 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
12701 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
12702 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
12703
12704 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
12705 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
12706 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
12707
12708 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
12709 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
12710 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
12711
12712 @node D
12713 @subsection D
12714
12715 @cindex D
12716 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
12717 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
12718 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
12719
12720 @node Objective-C
12721 @subsection Objective-C
12722
12723 @cindex Objective-C
12724 This section provides information about some commands and command
12725 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
12726 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
12727 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
12728
12729 @menu
12730 * Method Names in Commands::
12731 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
12732 @end menu
12733
12734 @node Method Names in Commands
12735 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
12736
12737 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
12738 names as line specifications:
12739
12740 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
12741 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
12742 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
12743 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
12744 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
12745 @itemize
12746 @item @code{clear}
12747 @item @code{break}
12748 @item @code{info line}
12749 @item @code{jump}
12750 @item @code{list}
12751 @end itemize
12752
12753 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
12754
12755 @smallexample
12756 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
12757 @end smallexample
12758
12759 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
12760 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
12761 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
12762 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
12763 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
12764 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
12765 debugged, enter:
12766
12767 @smallexample
12768 break -[Fruit create]
12769 @end smallexample
12770
12771 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
12772 enter:
12773
12774 @smallexample
12775 list +[NSText initialize]
12776 @end smallexample
12777
12778 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
12779 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
12780 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
12781 is also possible to specify just a method name:
12782
12783 @smallexample
12784 break create
12785 @end smallexample
12786
12787 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
12788 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
12789 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
12790 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
12791 none apply.
12792
12793 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
12794 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
12795
12796 @smallexample
12797 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
12798 @end smallexample
12799
12800 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
12801 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
12802 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
12803 @kindex print-object
12804 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
12805
12806 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
12807
12808 @smallexample
12809 print -[@var{object} hash]
12810 @end smallexample
12811
12812 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
12813 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
12814 @noindent
12815 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
12816 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
12817 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
12818 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
12819 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
12820 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
12821
12822 @node OpenCL C
12823 @subsection OpenCL C
12824
12825 @cindex OpenCL C
12826 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
12827
12828 @menu
12829 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
12830 * OpenCL C Expressions::
12831 * OpenCL C Operators::
12832 @end menu
12833
12834 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
12835 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
12836
12837 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
12838 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
12839 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
12840 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
12841 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
12842
12843 @node OpenCL C Expressions
12844 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
12845
12846 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
12847 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
12848 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
12849 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
12850
12851 @node OpenCL C Operators
12852 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
12853
12854 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
12855 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
12856 vector data types.
12857
12858 @node Fortran
12859 @subsection Fortran
12860 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
12861
12862 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
12863 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
12864
12865 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
12866 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
12867 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
12868 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
12869 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
12870 underscore.
12871
12872 @menu
12873 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
12874 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
12875 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
12876 @end menu
12877
12878 @node Fortran Operators
12879 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
12880
12881 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
12882
12883 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12884 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
12885 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
12886
12887 @table @code
12888 @item **
12889 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
12890 of the second one.
12891
12892 @item :
12893 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
12894 represent a section of array.
12895
12896 @item %
12897 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
12898 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
12899 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
12900 union type.
12901 @end table
12902
12903 @node Fortran Defaults
12904 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
12905
12906 @cindex Fortran Defaults
12907
12908 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
12909 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
12910 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
12911 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
12912
12913 @node Special Fortran Commands
12914 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
12915
12916 @cindex Special Fortran commands
12917
12918 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
12919 such as displaying common blocks.
12920
12921 @table @code
12922 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
12923 @kindex info common
12924 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
12925 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
12926 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
12927 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
12928 printed.
12929 @end table
12930
12931 @node Pascal
12932 @subsection Pascal
12933
12934 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
12935 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
12936 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
12937 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
12938 syntax.
12939
12940 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
12941 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
12942 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
12943
12944 @node Modula-2
12945 @subsection Modula-2
12946
12947 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
12948
12949 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
12950 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
12951 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
12952 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12953 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
12954 table.
12955
12956 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
12957 @menu
12958 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
12959 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
12960 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
12961 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
12962 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
12963 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
12964 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
12965 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12966 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12967 @end menu
12968
12969 @node M2 Operators
12970 @subsubsection Operators
12971 @cindex Modula-2 operators
12972
12973 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12974 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12975 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
12976 following definitions hold:
12977
12978 @itemize @bullet
12979
12980 @item
12981 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
12982 their subranges.
12983
12984 @item
12985 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
12986
12987 @item
12988 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
12989
12990 @item
12991 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
12992 @var{type}}.
12993
12994 @item
12995 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
12996
12997 @item
12998 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
12999
13000 @item
13001 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
13002 @end itemize
13003
13004 @noindent
13005 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
13006 increasing precedence:
13007
13008 @table @code
13009 @item ,
13010 Function argument or array index separator.
13011
13012 @item :=
13013 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
13014 @var{value}.
13015
13016 @item <@r{, }>
13017 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
13018 types.
13019
13020 @item <=@r{, }>=
13021 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
13022 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
13023 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
13024
13025 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
13026 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
13027 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
13028 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
13029 comment character.
13030
13031 @item IN
13032 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
13033 Same precedence as @code{<}.
13034
13035 @item OR
13036 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13037
13038 @item AND@r{, }&
13039 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13040
13041 @item @@
13042 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13043
13044 @item +@r{, }-
13045 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
13046 and difference on set types.
13047
13048 @item *
13049 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
13050 on set types.
13051
13052 @item /
13053 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
13054 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
13055
13056 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
13057 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
13058 precedence as @code{*}.
13059
13060 @item -
13061 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
13062
13063 @item ^
13064 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
13065
13066 @item NOT
13067 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
13068 @code{^}.
13069
13070 @item .
13071 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
13072 precedence as @code{^}.
13073
13074 @item []
13075 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
13076
13077 @item ()
13078 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
13079 as @code{^}.
13080
13081 @item ::@r{, }.
13082 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
13083 @end table
13084
13085 @quotation
13086 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
13087 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
13088 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
13089 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
13090 @end quotation
13091
13092
13093 @node Built-In Func/Proc
13094 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
13095 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
13096
13097 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
13098 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
13099
13100 @table @var
13101
13102 @item a
13103 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
13104
13105 @item c
13106 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
13107
13108 @item i
13109 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
13110
13111 @item m
13112 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
13113 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
13114 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
13115
13116 @item n
13117 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
13118
13119 @item r
13120 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
13121
13122 @item t
13123 represents a type.
13124
13125 @item v
13126 represents a variable.
13127
13128 @item x
13129 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
13130 explanation of the function for details.
13131 @end table
13132
13133 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
13134
13135 @table @code
13136 @item ABS(@var{n})
13137 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
13138
13139 @item CAP(@var{c})
13140 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
13141 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
13142
13143 @item CHR(@var{i})
13144 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13145
13146 @item DEC(@var{v})
13147 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13148
13149 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
13150 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13151 new value.
13152
13153 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13154 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
13155 set.
13156
13157 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
13158 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
13159
13160 @item HIGH(@var{a})
13161 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
13162
13163 @item INC(@var{v})
13164 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13165
13166 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
13167 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13168 new value.
13169
13170 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13171 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
13172 there. Returns the new set.
13173
13174 @item MAX(@var{t})
13175 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
13176
13177 @item MIN(@var{t})
13178 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
13179
13180 @item ODD(@var{i})
13181 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
13182
13183 @item ORD(@var{x})
13184 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
13185 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
13186 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
13187 integral, character and enumerated types.
13188
13189 @item SIZE(@var{x})
13190 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13191
13192 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
13193 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
13194
13195 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
13196 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13197
13198 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
13199 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13200 @end table
13201
13202 @quotation
13203 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
13204 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
13205 an error.
13206 @end quotation
13207
13208 @cindex Modula-2 constants
13209 @node M2 Constants
13210 @subsubsection Constants
13211
13212 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
13213 ways:
13214
13215 @itemize @bullet
13216
13217 @item
13218 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
13219 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
13220 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
13221 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
13222
13223 @item
13224 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
13225 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
13226 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
13227 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
13228 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
13229 digits.
13230
13231 @item
13232 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
13233 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
13234 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
13235 followed by a @samp{C}.
13236
13237 @item
13238 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
13239 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
13240 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
13241 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
13242 sequences.
13243
13244 @item
13245 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
13246
13247 @item
13248 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
13249 @code{FALSE}.
13250
13251 @item
13252 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
13253
13254 @item
13255 Set constants are not yet supported.
13256 @end itemize
13257
13258 @node M2 Types
13259 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
13260 @cindex Modula-2 types
13261
13262 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
13263 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
13264 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
13265 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
13266 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
13267 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
13268
13269 The first example contains the following section of code:
13270
13271 @smallexample
13272 VAR
13273 s: SET OF CHAR ;
13274 r: [20..40] ;
13275 @end smallexample
13276
13277 @noindent
13278 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
13279 @code{r} and @code{s}.
13280
13281 @smallexample
13282 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13283 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
13284 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13285 SET OF CHAR
13286 (@value{GDBP}) print r
13287 21
13288 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
13289 [20..40]
13290 @end smallexample
13291
13292 @noindent
13293 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
13294
13295 @smallexample
13296 VAR
13297 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
13298 @end smallexample
13299
13300 @noindent
13301 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
13302
13303 @smallexample
13304 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13305 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
13306 @end smallexample
13307
13308 @noindent
13309 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
13310 expressions using the debugger.
13311
13312 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
13313 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
13314
13315 @smallexample
13316 VAR
13317 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
13318 @end smallexample
13319
13320 @smallexample
13321 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13322 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
13323 @end smallexample
13324
13325 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
13326 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
13327 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
13328 above.
13329
13330 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
13331
13332 @smallexample
13333 TYPE
13334 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
13335 t = [blue..yellow] ;
13336 VAR
13337 s: t ;
13338 BEGIN
13339 s := blue ;
13340 @end smallexample
13341
13342 @noindent
13343 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
13344 and value of a variable.
13345
13346 @smallexample
13347 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13348 $1 = blue
13349 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
13350 type = [blue..yellow]
13351 @end smallexample
13352
13353 @noindent
13354 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
13355 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
13356 their @code{C} counterparts.
13357
13358 @smallexample
13359 VAR
13360 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
13361 BEGIN
13362 s[1] := 1 ;
13363 @end smallexample
13364
13365 @smallexample
13366 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13367 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
13368 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13369 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
13370 @end smallexample
13371
13372 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
13373 pointer types as shown in this example:
13374
13375 @smallexample
13376 VAR
13377 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
13378 BEGIN
13379 NEW(s) ;
13380 s^[1] := 1 ;
13381 @end smallexample
13382
13383 @noindent
13384 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
13385
13386 @smallexample
13387 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13388 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
13389 @end smallexample
13390
13391 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
13392 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
13393 types:
13394
13395 @smallexample
13396 TYPE
13397 foo = RECORD
13398 f1: CARDINAL ;
13399 f2: CHAR ;
13400 f3: myarray ;
13401 END ;
13402
13403 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
13404 myrange = [-2..2] ;
13405 VAR
13406 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
13407 @end smallexample
13408
13409 @noindent
13410 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
13411 below.
13412
13413 @smallexample
13414 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13415 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
13416 f1 : CARDINAL;
13417 f2 : CHAR;
13418 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
13419 END
13420 @end smallexample
13421
13422 @node M2 Defaults
13423 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
13424 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
13425
13426 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
13427 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
13428 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13429 selected the working language.
13430
13431 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
13432 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
13433 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
13434 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
13435
13436 @node Deviations
13437 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
13438 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
13439
13440 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
13441 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
13442
13443 @itemize @bullet
13444 @item
13445 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
13446 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
13447 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
13448 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
13449 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
13450 returned a pointer.)
13451
13452 @item
13453 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
13454 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
13455 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
13456 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
13457
13458 @item
13459 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
13460 argument.
13461
13462 @item
13463 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
13464 @end itemize
13465
13466 @node M2 Checks
13467 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
13468 @cindex Modula-2 checks
13469
13470 @quotation
13471 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
13472 range checking.
13473 @end quotation
13474 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
13475
13476 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
13477
13478 @itemize @bullet
13479 @item
13480 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
13481 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
13482
13483 @item
13484 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
13485 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
13486 @end itemize
13487
13488 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
13489 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
13490
13491 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
13492 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
13493
13494 @node M2 Scope
13495 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13496 @cindex scope
13497 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
13498 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
13499 @ifinfo
13500 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
13501 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
13502 @end ifinfo
13503 @ifnotinfo
13504 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
13505 @end ifnotinfo
13506
13507 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
13508 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
13509 similar syntax:
13510
13511 @smallexample
13512
13513 @var{module} . @var{id}
13514 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
13515 @end smallexample
13516
13517 @noindent
13518 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
13519 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
13520 identifier within your program, except another module.
13521
13522 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
13523 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
13524 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
13525 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
13526
13527 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
13528 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
13529 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
13530 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
13531 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
13532 @var{module}.
13533
13534 @node GDB/M2
13535 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13536
13537 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
13538 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
13539 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
13540 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
13541 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
13542 analogue in Modula-2.
13543
13544 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
13545 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
13546 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
13547 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
13548 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
13549 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
13550
13551 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
13552 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
13553 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
13554
13555 @node Ada
13556 @subsection Ada
13557 @cindex Ada
13558
13559 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
13560 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
13561 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
13562 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13563 to be difficult.
13564
13565
13566 @cindex expressions in Ada
13567 @menu
13568 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
13569 and semantics supported by Ada mode
13570 in @value{GDBN}.
13571 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
13572 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
13573 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
13574 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
13575 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13576 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
13577 Profile
13578 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
13579 @end menu
13580
13581 @node Ada Mode Intro
13582 @subsubsection Introduction
13583 @cindex Ada mode, general
13584
13585 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
13586 syntax, with some extensions.
13587 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
13588
13589 @itemize @bullet
13590 @item
13591 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
13592 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
13593 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
13594 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
13595
13596 @item
13597 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
13598 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13599
13600 @item
13601 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13602 @end itemize
13603
13604 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
13605 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
13606 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
13607 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
13608 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
13609
13610 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
13611 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
13612 was translated from an Ada source file.
13613
13614 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
13615 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
13616 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
13617 middle (to allow based literals).
13618
13619 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
13620 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
13621 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
13622 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
13623 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
13624 functions to procedures elsewhere.
13625
13626 @node Omissions from Ada
13627 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
13628 @cindex Ada, omissions from
13629
13630 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
13631
13632 @itemize @bullet
13633 @item
13634 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
13635
13636 @itemize @minus
13637 @item
13638 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
13639 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
13640
13641 @item
13642 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
13643
13644 @item
13645 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
13646
13647 @item
13648 @t{'Tag}.
13649
13650 @item
13651 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
13652 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
13653
13654 @item
13655 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
13656 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
13657
13658 @item
13659 @t{'Address}.
13660 @end itemize
13661
13662 @item
13663 The names in
13664 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
13665 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
13666 not currently available.
13667
13668 @item
13669 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
13670 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
13671 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
13672 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
13673 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
13674 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
13675 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
13676 indeterminate values.
13677
13678 @item
13679 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
13680 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
13681 are not implemented.
13682
13683 @item
13684 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
13685 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
13686 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
13687 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
13688 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
13689
13690 @smallexample
13691 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
13692 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
13693 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
13694 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
13695 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
13696 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
13697 @end smallexample
13698
13699 Changing a
13700 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
13701 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
13702 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
13703 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
13704 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
13705 declared to have a type such as:
13706
13707 @smallexample
13708 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
13709 Id : Integer;
13710 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
13711 end record;
13712 @end smallexample
13713
13714 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
13715 assignments:
13716
13717 @smallexample
13718 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
13719 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
13720 @end smallexample
13721
13722 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
13723 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
13724 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
13725 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
13726 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
13727 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
13728 redundant component associations, although which component values are
13729 assigned in such cases is not defined.
13730
13731 @item
13732 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
13733
13734 @item
13735 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
13736 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
13737 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
13738 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
13739 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
13740 the proper resolution.
13741
13742 @item
13743 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
13744
13745 @item
13746 Entry calls are not implemented.
13747
13748 @item
13749 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
13750 formats are not supported.
13751
13752 @item
13753 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
13754
13755 @item
13756 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
13757 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
13758 context.
13759 Should your program
13760 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
13761 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
13762 @end itemize
13763
13764 @node Additions to Ada
13765 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
13766 @cindex Ada, deviations from
13767
13768 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
13769 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
13770
13771 @itemize @bullet
13772 @item
13773 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
13774 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
13775 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
13776 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
13777 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
13778 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
13779 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
13780 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
13781
13782 @item
13783 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
13784 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
13785 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
13786
13787 @item
13788 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
13789 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
13790
13791 @item
13792 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
13793 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
13794 @end itemize
13795
13796 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
13797 additions specific to Ada:
13798
13799 @itemize @bullet
13800 @item
13801 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
13802 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
13803
13804 @smallexample
13805 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
13806 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
13807 @end smallexample
13808
13809 @item
13810 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
13811 the value of its right-hand operand.
13812 This allows, for example,
13813 complex conditional breaks:
13814
13815 @smallexample
13816 (@value{GDBP}) break f
13817 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
13818 @end smallexample
13819
13820 @item
13821 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
13822 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
13823 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
13824 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
13825 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
13826 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
13827 in strings. For example,
13828 @smallexample
13829 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
13830 @end smallexample
13831 @noindent
13832 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
13833 after each period.
13834
13835 @item
13836 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
13837 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
13838 to write
13839
13840 @smallexample
13841 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
13842 @end smallexample
13843
13844 @item
13845 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
13846 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
13847 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
13848 of 3 might print as
13849
13850 @smallexample
13851 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
13852 @end smallexample
13853
13854 @noindent
13855 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
13856 clause.
13857
13858 @item
13859 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
13860 multi-character subsequence of
13861 their names (an exact match gets preference).
13862 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
13863 in place of @t{a'length}.
13864
13865 @item
13866 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
13867 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
13868 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
13869 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
13870 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
13871 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
13872 For example,
13873 @smallexample
13874 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
13875 @end smallexample
13876
13877 @item
13878 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
13879 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
13880 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
13881 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
13882 object.
13883
13884 @end itemize
13885
13886 @node Stopping Before Main Program
13887 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
13888
13889 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
13890 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
13891 before reaching the main procedure.
13892 As defined in the Ada Reference
13893 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
13894 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
13895 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
13896 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
13897
13898 @node Ada Tasks
13899 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
13900 @cindex Ada, tasking
13901
13902 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
13903 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
13904
13905 @table @code
13906 @kindex info tasks
13907 @item info tasks
13908 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
13909
13910
13911 @smallexample
13912 @iftex
13913 @leftskip=0.5cm
13914 @end iftex
13915 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13916 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13917 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13918 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
13919 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
13920 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
13921
13922 @end smallexample
13923
13924 @noindent
13925 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
13926 task currently being inspected.
13927
13928 @table @asis
13929 @item ID
13930 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
13931
13932 @item TID
13933 The Ada task ID.
13934
13935 @item P-ID
13936 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
13937
13938 @item Pri
13939 The base priority of the task.
13940
13941 @item State
13942 Current state of the task.
13943
13944 @table @code
13945 @item Unactivated
13946 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
13947 executing.
13948
13949 @item Runnable
13950 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
13951 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
13952
13953 @item Terminated
13954 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
13955 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
13956 terminated themselves.
13957
13958 @item Child Activation Wait
13959 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
13960
13961 @item Accept Statement
13962 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
13963
13964 @item Waiting on entry call
13965 The task is waiting on an entry call.
13966
13967 @item Async Select Wait
13968 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
13969 select statement.
13970
13971 @item Delay Sleep
13972 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
13973 alternative open.
13974
13975 @item Child Termination Wait
13976 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
13977 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
13978 waiting on a terminate Phase.
13979
13980 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
13981 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
13982 finish terminating.
13983
13984 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
13985 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
13986 @end table
13987
13988 @item Name
13989 Name of the task in the program.
13990
13991 @end table
13992
13993 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
13994 @item info task @var{taskno}
13995 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
13996 the following example:
13997 @smallexample
13998 @iftex
13999 @leftskip=0.5cm
14000 @end iftex
14001 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14002 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14003 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14004 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
14005 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
14006 Ada Task: 0x807c468
14007 Name: task_1
14008 Thread: 0x807f378
14009 Parent: 1 (main_task)
14010 Base Priority: 15
14011 State: Runnable
14012 @end smallexample
14013
14014 @item task
14015 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
14016 @cindex current Ada task ID
14017 This command prints the ID of the current task.
14018
14019 @smallexample
14020 @iftex
14021 @leftskip=0.5cm
14022 @end iftex
14023 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14024 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14025 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14026 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14027 (@value{GDBP}) task
14028 [Current task is 2]
14029 @end smallexample
14030
14031 @item task @var{taskno}
14032 @cindex Ada task switching
14033 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
14034 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
14035 from the current task to the given task.
14036
14037 @smallexample
14038 @iftex
14039 @leftskip=0.5cm
14040 @end iftex
14041 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14042 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14043 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14044 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14045 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
14046 [Switching to task 1]
14047 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14048 (@value{GDBP}) bt
14049 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14050 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
14051 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
14052 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
14053 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
14054 @end smallexample
14055
14056 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
14057 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
14058 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
14059 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
14060 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
14061 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
14062 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
14063 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
14064 in @ref{Specify Location}.
14065
14066 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
14067 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
14068 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
14069 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
14070 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
14071
14072 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
14073 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
14074 program.
14075
14076 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
14077 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
14078 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
14079
14080 For example,
14081
14082 @smallexample
14083 @iftex
14084 @leftskip=0.5cm
14085 @end iftex
14086 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14087 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14088 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14089 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
14090 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14091 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
14092 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
14093 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
14094 (@value{GDBP}) cont
14095 Continuing.
14096 task # 1 running
14097 task # 2 running
14098
14099 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
14100 15 flush;
14101 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14102 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14103 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14104 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
14105 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14106 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
14107 @end smallexample
14108 @end table
14109
14110 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
14111 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14112 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
14113
14114 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
14115 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
14116 the platform being used.
14117 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
14118 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
14119 as usual.
14120
14121 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
14122 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
14123 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
14124 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
14125 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
14126 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
14127
14128 @node Ravenscar Profile
14129 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
14130 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
14131
14132 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
14133 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
14134 requirements.
14135
14136 @table @code
14137 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
14138 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
14139 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
14140 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14141 Profile. This is the default.
14142
14143 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
14144 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
14145 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14146 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
14147 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
14148 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
14149 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
14150
14151 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
14152 @item show ravenscar task-switching
14153 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
14154 using the Ravenscar Profile.
14155
14156 @end table
14157
14158 @node Ada Glitches
14159 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
14160 @cindex Ada, problems
14161
14162 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
14163 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
14164 @value{GDBN},
14165 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
14166 and the GNU Ada compiler.
14167
14168 @itemize @bullet
14169 @item
14170 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
14171 storage are invisible to the debugger.
14172
14173 @item
14174 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
14175 argument lists are treated as positional).
14176
14177 @item
14178 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
14179
14180 @item
14181 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
14182 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
14183 the host machine.
14184
14185 @item
14186 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
14187 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
14188 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
14189 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
14190 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
14191 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
14192 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
14193 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
14194 you can usually resolve the confusion
14195 by qualifying the problematic names with package
14196 @code{Standard} explicitly.
14197 @end itemize
14198
14199 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
14200 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
14201 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
14202 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
14203 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
14204 enabled.
14205
14206 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14207 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14208 @table @code
14209
14210 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
14211 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
14212 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
14213 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
14214 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
14215 This is the default.
14216
14217 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
14218 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
14219 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
14220 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
14221 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
14222 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
14223 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
14224
14225 @end table
14226
14227 @node Unsupported Languages
14228 @section Unsupported Languages
14229
14230 @cindex unsupported languages
14231 @cindex minimal language
14232 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
14233 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
14234 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
14235 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
14236 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
14237 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
14238
14239 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
14240 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
14241 language.
14242
14243 @node Symbols
14244 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
14245
14246 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
14247 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
14248 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
14249 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
14250 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
14251 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
14252 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14253
14254 @cindex symbol names
14255 @cindex names of symbols
14256 @cindex quoting names
14257 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
14258 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
14259 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
14260 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
14261 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
14262 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
14263 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
14264 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
14265
14266 @smallexample
14267 p 'foo.c'::x
14268 @end smallexample
14269
14270 @noindent
14271 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
14272
14273 @table @code
14274 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
14275 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
14276 @kindex set case-sensitive
14277 @item set case-sensitive on
14278 @itemx set case-sensitive off
14279 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
14280 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
14281 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
14282 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
14283 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
14284 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
14285 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
14286 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
14287 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
14288 case-insensitive matches.
14289
14290 @kindex show case-sensitive
14291 @item show case-sensitive
14292 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
14293 lookups.
14294
14295 @kindex info address
14296 @cindex address of a symbol
14297 @item info address @var{symbol}
14298 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
14299 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
14300 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
14301 is always stored.
14302
14303 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
14304 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
14305 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
14306
14307 @kindex info symbol
14308 @cindex symbol from address
14309 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
14310 @item info symbol @var{addr}
14311 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
14312 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
14313 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
14314
14315 @smallexample
14316 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
14317 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
14318 @end smallexample
14319
14320 @noindent
14321 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
14322 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
14323
14324 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
14325 library containing the symbol is also printed:
14326
14327 @smallexample
14328 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
14329 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
14330 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
14331 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
14332 @end smallexample
14333
14334 @kindex whatis
14335 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
14336 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
14337 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
14338 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
14339
14340 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
14341 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
14342 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
14343
14344 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
14345 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
14346 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
14347 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
14348 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
14349 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
14350 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
14351 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
14352 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
14353
14354 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
14355 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
14356 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
14357 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
14358 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
14359 unroll it.
14360
14361 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
14362 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
14363 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
14364
14365 @kindex ptype
14366 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
14367 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
14368 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
14369 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
14370
14371 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
14372 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
14373 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
14374 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
14375 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
14376 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
14377 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
14378 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
14379
14380 For example, for this variable declaration:
14381
14382 @smallexample
14383 typedef double real_t;
14384 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
14385 typedef struct complex complex_t;
14386 complex_t var;
14387 real_t *real_pointer_var;
14388 @end smallexample
14389
14390 @noindent
14391 the two commands give this output:
14392
14393 @smallexample
14394 @group
14395 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
14396 type = complex_t
14397 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
14398 type = struct complex @{
14399 real_t real;
14400 double imag;
14401 @}
14402 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
14403 type = struct complex
14404 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
14405 type = struct complex
14406 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
14407 type = struct complex @{
14408 real_t real;
14409 double imag;
14410 @}
14411 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
14412 type = real_t *
14413 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
14414 type = double *
14415 @end group
14416 @end smallexample
14417
14418 @noindent
14419 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
14420 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
14421
14422 @cindex incomplete type
14423 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
14424 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
14425 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
14426 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
14427 given these declarations:
14428
14429 @smallexample
14430 struct foo;
14431 struct foo *fooptr;
14432 @end smallexample
14433
14434 @noindent
14435 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
14436
14437 @smallexample
14438 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
14439 $1 = <incomplete type>
14440 @end smallexample
14441
14442 @noindent
14443 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
14444 completely specified.
14445
14446 @kindex info types
14447 @item info types @var{regexp}
14448 @itemx info types
14449 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
14450 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
14451 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
14452 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
14453 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
14454 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
14455 name is @code{value}.
14456
14457 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
14458 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
14459 lists all source files where a type is defined.
14460
14461 @kindex info scope
14462 @cindex local variables
14463 @item info scope @var{location}
14464 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
14465 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
14466 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
14467 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
14468 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
14469
14470 @smallexample
14471 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
14472 Scope for command_line_handler:
14473 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
14474 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
14475 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
14476 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
14477 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
14478 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
14479 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
14480 @end smallexample
14481
14482 @noindent
14483 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
14484 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
14485 collect}.
14486
14487 @kindex info source
14488 @item info source
14489 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
14490 the function containing the current point of execution:
14491 @itemize @bullet
14492 @item
14493 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
14494 @item
14495 the directory it was compiled in,
14496 @item
14497 its length, in lines,
14498 @item
14499 which programming language it is written in,
14500 @item
14501 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
14502 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
14503 @item
14504 whether the debugging information includes information about
14505 preprocessor macros.
14506 @end itemize
14507
14508
14509 @kindex info sources
14510 @item info sources
14511 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
14512 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
14513 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
14514
14515 @kindex info functions
14516 @item info functions
14517 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
14518
14519 @item info functions @var{regexp}
14520 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
14521 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
14522 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
14523 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
14524 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
14525 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
14526 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
14527
14528 @kindex info variables
14529 @item info variables
14530 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
14531 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
14532
14533 @item info variables @var{regexp}
14534 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
14535 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
14536 @var{regexp}.
14537
14538 @kindex info classes
14539 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
14540 @item info classes
14541 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
14542 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
14543 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
14544 expression.
14545
14546 @kindex info selectors
14547 @item info selectors
14548 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
14549 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
14550 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
14551 expression.
14552
14553 @ignore
14554 This was never implemented.
14555 @kindex info methods
14556 @item info methods
14557 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
14558 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
14559 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
14560 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
14561 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
14562 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
14563 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
14564 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
14565 @end ignore
14566
14567 @cindex reloading symbols
14568 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
14569 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
14570 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
14571 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
14572 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
14573
14574 @table @code
14575 @kindex set symbol-reloading
14576 @item set symbol-reloading on
14577 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
14578 object file with a particular name is seen again.
14579
14580 @item set symbol-reloading off
14581 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
14582 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
14583 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
14584 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
14585 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
14586 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
14587 name.
14588
14589 @kindex show symbol-reloading
14590 @item show symbol-reloading
14591 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
14592 @end table
14593
14594 @cindex opaque data types
14595 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
14596 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
14597 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
14598 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
14599 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
14600 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
14601 another source file. The default is on.
14602
14603 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
14604 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
14605
14606 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
14607 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
14608 is printed as follows:
14609 @smallexample
14610 @{<no data fields>@}
14611 @end smallexample
14612
14613 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
14614 @item show opaque-type-resolution
14615 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
14616
14617 @kindex maint print symbols
14618 @cindex symbol dump
14619 @kindex maint print psymbols
14620 @cindex partial symbol dump
14621 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
14622 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
14623 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
14624 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
14625 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
14626 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
14627 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
14628 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
14629 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
14630 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
14631 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
14632 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
14633 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
14634 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
14635 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
14636 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
14637 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
14638
14639 @kindex maint info symtabs
14640 @kindex maint info psymtabs
14641 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
14642 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14643 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14644 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14645 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14646 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14647
14648 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
14649 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
14650 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
14651 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
14652 structure in more detail. For example:
14653
14654 @smallexample
14655 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
14656 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14657 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14658 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14659 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
14660 readin no
14661 fullname (null)
14662 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
14663 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
14664 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
14665 dependencies (none)
14666 @}
14667 @}
14668 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14669 (@value{GDBP})
14670 @end smallexample
14671 @noindent
14672 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
14673 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
14674 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
14675 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
14676 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
14677
14678 @smallexample
14679 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
14680 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
14681 line 1574.
14682 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14683 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14684 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14685 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14686 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
14687 dirname (null)
14688 fullname (null)
14689 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
14690 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
14691 debugformat DWARF 2
14692 @}
14693 @}
14694 (@value{GDBP})
14695 @end smallexample
14696 @end table
14697
14698
14699 @node Altering
14700 @chapter Altering Execution
14701
14702 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
14703 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
14704 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
14705 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
14706 program.
14707
14708 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
14709 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
14710 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
14711
14712 @menu
14713 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
14714 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
14715 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
14716 * Returning:: Returning from a function
14717 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
14718 * Patching:: Patching your program
14719 @end menu
14720
14721 @node Assignment
14722 @section Assignment to Variables
14723
14724 @cindex assignment
14725 @cindex setting variables
14726 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
14727 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
14728
14729 @smallexample
14730 print x=4
14731 @end smallexample
14732
14733 @noindent
14734 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
14735 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
14736 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
14737 information on operators in supported languages.
14738
14739 @kindex set variable
14740 @cindex variables, setting
14741 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
14742 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
14743 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
14744 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
14745 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
14746
14747 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
14748 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
14749 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
14750 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
14751 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
14752 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
14753 command @code{set width}:
14754
14755 @smallexample
14756 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
14757 type = double
14758 (@value{GDBP}) p width
14759 $4 = 13
14760 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
14761 Invalid syntax in expression.
14762 @end smallexample
14763
14764 @noindent
14765 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
14766 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
14767
14768 @smallexample
14769 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
14770 @end smallexample
14771
14772 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
14773 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
14774 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
14775 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
14776 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
14777 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
14778
14779 @smallexample
14780 @group
14781 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
14782 type = double
14783 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14784 $1 = 1
14785 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
14786 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14787 $2 = 1
14788 (@value{GDBP}) r
14789 The program being debugged has been started already.
14790 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
14791 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
14792 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
14793 Invalid bfd target.
14794 (@value{GDBP}) show g
14795 The current BFD target is "=4".
14796 @end group
14797 @end smallexample
14798
14799 @noindent
14800 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
14801 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
14802 @code{g}, use
14803
14804 @smallexample
14805 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
14806 @end smallexample
14807
14808 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
14809 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
14810 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
14811 same length or shorter.
14812 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
14813 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
14814
14815 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
14816 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
14817 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
14818 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
14819 and representation in memory), and
14820
14821 @smallexample
14822 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
14823 @end smallexample
14824
14825 @noindent
14826 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
14827
14828 @node Jumping
14829 @section Continuing at a Different Address
14830
14831 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
14832 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
14833 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
14834
14835 @table @code
14836 @kindex jump
14837 @item jump @var{linespec}
14838 @itemx jump @var{location}
14839 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
14840 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
14841 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
14842 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
14843 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
14844 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14845
14846 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
14847 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
14848 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
14849 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
14850 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
14851 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
14852 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
14853 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
14854 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
14855 @end table
14856
14857 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
14858 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
14859 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
14860 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
14861 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
14862 example,
14863
14864 @smallexample
14865 set $pc = 0x485
14866 @end smallexample
14867
14868 @noindent
14869 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
14870 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
14871 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
14872
14873 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
14874 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
14875 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
14876 detail.
14877
14878 @c @group
14879 @node Signaling
14880 @section Giving your Program a Signal
14881 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
14882
14883 @table @code
14884 @kindex signal
14885 @item signal @var{signal}
14886 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
14887 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
14888 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
14889 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
14890
14891 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
14892 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
14893 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
14894 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
14895 signal.
14896
14897 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
14898 after executing the command.
14899 @end table
14900 @c @end group
14901
14902 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
14903 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
14904 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
14905 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
14906 passes the signal directly to your program.
14907
14908
14909 @node Returning
14910 @section Returning from a Function
14911
14912 @table @code
14913 @cindex returning from a function
14914 @kindex return
14915 @item return
14916 @itemx return @var{expression}
14917 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
14918 command. If you give an
14919 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
14920 value.
14921 @end table
14922
14923 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
14924 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
14925 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
14926 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
14927
14928 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
14929 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
14930 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
14931 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
14932 of functions.
14933
14934 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
14935 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
14936 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
14937 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
14938 selected stack frame returns naturally.
14939
14940 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
14941 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
14942 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
14943 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
14944 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
14945 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
14946 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
14947 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
14948 assignment into the right register(s).
14949
14950 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
14951 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
14952 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
14953 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
14954 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
14955 into a @code{long long int}:
14956
14957 @smallexample
14958 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
14959 29 return 31;
14960 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
14961 Make func return now? (y or n) y
14962 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
14963 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
14964 (@value{GDBP})
14965 @end smallexample
14966
14967 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
14968 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
14969 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
14970 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
14971 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
14972 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
14973 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
14974 an appropriate cast explicitly:
14975
14976 @smallexample
14977 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
14978 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
14979 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
14980 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
14981 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
14982 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
14983 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
14984 (@value{GDBP})
14985 @end smallexample
14986
14987 @node Calling
14988 @section Calling Program Functions
14989
14990 @table @code
14991 @cindex calling functions
14992 @cindex inferior functions, calling
14993 @item print @var{expr}
14994 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
14995 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
14996 debugged.
14997
14998 @kindex call
14999 @item call @var{expr}
15000 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
15001 returned values.
15002
15003 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
15004 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
15005 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
15006 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
15007 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
15008 value history.
15009 @end table
15010
15011 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
15012 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
15013 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
15014 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
15015
15016 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
15017 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
15018 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
15019 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
15020 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
15021 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
15022 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
15023 in that case is controlled by the
15024 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
15025
15026 @table @code
15027 @item set unwindonsignal
15028 @kindex set unwindonsignal
15029 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
15030 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
15031 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
15032 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
15033 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
15034 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
15035 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
15036 received.
15037
15038 @item show unwindonsignal
15039 @kindex show unwindonsignal
15040 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15041 @value{GDBN}.
15042
15043 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15044 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15045 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
15046 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
15047 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
15048 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
15049 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
15050 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
15051 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
15052 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
15053
15054 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15055 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15056 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15057 @value{GDBN}.
15058
15059 @end table
15060
15061 @cindex weak alias functions
15062 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
15063 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
15064 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
15065 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
15066 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
15067 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
15068 function instead.
15069
15070 @node Patching
15071 @section Patching Programs
15072
15073 @cindex patching binaries
15074 @cindex writing into executables
15075 @cindex writing into corefiles
15076
15077 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
15078 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
15079 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
15080 patching your program's binary.
15081
15082 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
15083 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
15084 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
15085 repairs.
15086
15087 @table @code
15088 @kindex set write
15089 @item set write on
15090 @itemx set write off
15091 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
15092 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
15093 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
15094
15095 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
15096 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
15097 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
15098
15099 @item show write
15100 @kindex show write
15101 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
15102 as well as reading.
15103 @end table
15104
15105 @node GDB Files
15106 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
15107
15108 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
15109 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
15110 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
15111 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
15112
15113 @menu
15114 * Files:: Commands to specify files
15115 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
15116 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
15117 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
15118 * Data Files:: GDB data files
15119 @end menu
15120
15121 @node Files
15122 @section Commands to Specify Files
15123
15124 @cindex symbol table
15125 @cindex core dump file
15126
15127 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
15128 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
15129 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
15130 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
15131
15132 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
15133 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
15134 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
15135 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
15136 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
15137 new files are useful.
15138
15139 @table @code
15140 @cindex executable file
15141 @kindex file
15142 @item file @var{filename}
15143 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
15144 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
15145 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
15146 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
15147 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
15148 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
15149 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
15150 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
15151
15152 @cindex unlinked object files
15153 @cindex patching object files
15154 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
15155 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
15156 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
15157 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
15158 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
15159 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
15160 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
15161 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
15162
15163 @item file
15164 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
15165 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
15166
15167 @kindex exec-file
15168 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15169 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
15170 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
15171 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
15172 discard information on the executable file.
15173
15174 @kindex symbol-file
15175 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15176 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
15177 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
15178 table and program to run from the same file.
15179
15180 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
15181 program's symbol table.
15182
15183 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
15184 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
15185 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
15186 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
15187 @value{GDBN}.
15188
15189 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
15190 executing it once.
15191
15192 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
15193 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
15194 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
15195 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
15196 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
15197 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
15198 optimized code.
15199
15200 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
15201 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
15202 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
15203 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
15204 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
15205
15206 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
15207 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
15208 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
15209 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
15210 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
15211 Warnings and Messages}.)
15212
15213 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
15214 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
15215 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
15216 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
15217 in stabs format.
15218
15219 @kindex readnow
15220 @cindex reading symbols immediately
15221 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
15222 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15223 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15224 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
15225 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
15226 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
15227 entire symbol table available.
15228
15229 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
15230 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
15231 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
15232 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
15233 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
15234 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
15235 @c files.
15236
15237 @kindex core-file
15238 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
15239 @itemx core
15240 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
15241 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
15242 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
15243 executable file itself for other parts.
15244
15245 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
15246 to be used.
15247
15248 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
15249 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
15250 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
15251 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
15252 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
15253
15254 @kindex add-symbol-file
15255 @cindex dynamic linking
15256 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
15257 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
15258 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
15259 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
15260 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
15261 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
15262 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
15263 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
15264 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
15265 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
15266 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
15267 @var{address} as an expression.
15268
15269 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
15270 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
15271 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
15272 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
15273 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
15274
15275 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
15276 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
15277 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
15278 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
15279 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
15280 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
15281 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
15282 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
15283 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
15284
15285 @itemize @bullet
15286 @item
15287 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
15288 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
15289 @item
15290 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
15291 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
15292 @item
15293 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
15294 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15295 @end itemize
15296
15297 @noindent
15298 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
15299 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
15300 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
15301 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
15302 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
15303 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
15304 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
15305 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
15306 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
15307 way.
15308
15309 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
15310
15311 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
15312 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
15313 @cindex load symbols from memory
15314 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
15315 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
15316 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
15317 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
15318 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
15319 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
15320 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
15321 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
15322 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
15323
15324 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
15325 @kindex assf
15326 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
15327 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
15328 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
15329 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
15330 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
15331 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
15332 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
15333 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
15334 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
15335 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
15336
15337 @kindex section
15338 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
15339 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
15340 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
15341 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
15342 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
15343 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
15344 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
15345 their addresses.
15346
15347 @kindex info files
15348 @kindex info target
15349 @item info files
15350 @itemx info target
15351 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
15352 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
15353 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
15354 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
15355 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
15356 current ones.
15357
15358 @kindex maint info sections
15359 @item maint info sections
15360 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
15361 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
15362 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
15363 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
15364 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
15365 may be arbitrarily combined):
15366
15367 @table @code
15368 @item ALLOBJ
15369 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
15370 @item @var{sections}
15371 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
15372 @item @var{section-flags}
15373 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
15374 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
15375 @table @code
15376 @item ALLOC
15377 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
15378 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
15379 @item LOAD
15380 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
15381 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
15382 @item RELOC
15383 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
15384 @item READONLY
15385 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
15386 @item CODE
15387 Section contains executable code only.
15388 @item DATA
15389 Section contains data only (no executable code).
15390 @item ROM
15391 Section will reside in ROM.
15392 @item CONSTRUCTOR
15393 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
15394 @item HAS_CONTENTS
15395 Section is not empty.
15396 @item NEVER_LOAD
15397 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
15398 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
15399 A notification to the linker that the section contains
15400 COFF shared library information.
15401 @item IS_COMMON
15402 Section contains common symbols.
15403 @end table
15404 @end table
15405 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
15406 @cindex read-only sections
15407 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
15408 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
15409 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
15410 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
15411 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
15412 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
15413 enhancement to debugging performance.
15414
15415 The default is off.
15416
15417 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
15418 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
15419 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
15420 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
15421
15422 @item show trust-readonly-sections
15423 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
15424 @end table
15425
15426 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
15427 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
15428 name and remembers it that way.
15429
15430 @cindex shared libraries
15431 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
15432 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
15433 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
15434
15435 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
15436 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
15437
15438 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
15439 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
15440 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
15441 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
15442 debugging a core file).
15443
15444 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
15445 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
15446
15447 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
15448 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
15449 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
15450
15451 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
15452 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
15453 particularly large or there are many of them.
15454
15455 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
15456 commands:
15457
15458 @table @code
15459 @kindex set auto-solib-add
15460 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
15461 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
15462 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
15463 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
15464 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
15465 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
15466 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
15467
15468 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
15469 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
15470 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
15471 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
15472 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
15473 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
15474 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
15475 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
15476 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
15477
15478 @kindex show auto-solib-add
15479 @item show auto-solib-add
15480 Display the current autoloading mode.
15481 @end table
15482
15483 @cindex load shared library
15484 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
15485 command:
15486
15487 @table @code
15488 @kindex info sharedlibrary
15489 @kindex info share
15490 @item info share @var{regex}
15491 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
15492 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
15493 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
15494 all shared libraries that are loaded.
15495
15496 @kindex sharedlibrary
15497 @kindex share
15498 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
15499 @itemx share @var{regex}
15500 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
15501 Unix regular expression.
15502 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
15503 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
15504 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
15505 loaded.
15506
15507 @item nosharedlibrary
15508 @kindex nosharedlibrary
15509 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
15510 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
15511 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
15512 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
15513 discarded.
15514 @end table
15515
15516 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
15517 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
15518 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
15519
15520 @table @code
15521 @item set stop-on-solib-events
15522 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
15523 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
15524 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
15525 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
15526 shared library.
15527
15528 @item show stop-on-solib-events
15529 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
15530 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
15531 library events happen.
15532 @end table
15533
15534 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
15535 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
15536 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
15537 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
15538 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
15539 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
15540 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
15541 not.
15542
15543 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
15544 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
15545 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
15546 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
15547 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
15548
15549 @table @code
15550 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
15551 @cindex system root, alternate
15552 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
15553 @kindex set sysroot
15554 @item set sysroot @var{path}
15555 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
15556 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
15557 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
15558 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
15559 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
15560 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
15561 under @var{path}.
15562
15563 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
15564 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
15565 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
15566 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
15567 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
15568 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
15569 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
15570 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
15571 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
15572
15573 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
15574 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
15575 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
15576 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
15577 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
15578
15579 @smallexample
15580 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
15581 @end smallexample
15582
15583 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
15584 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
15585 system:
15586
15587 @smallexample
15588 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
15589 @end smallexample
15590
15591 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
15592 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
15593 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
15594 colons:
15595
15596 @smallexample
15597 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
15598 @end smallexample
15599
15600 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
15601 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
15602 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
15603 @samp{z}):
15604
15605 @smallexample
15606 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
15607 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15608 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15609 @end smallexample
15610
15611 @noindent
15612 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
15613 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
15614 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
15615
15616 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
15617 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
15618
15619 @smallexample
15620 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
15621 @end smallexample
15622
15623 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
15624 if you don't want or need to.
15625
15626 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
15627 sysroot}.
15628
15629 @cindex default system root
15630 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
15631 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
15632 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
15633 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15634 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
15635 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15636 location.
15637
15638 @kindex show sysroot
15639 @item show sysroot
15640 Display the current shared library prefix.
15641
15642 @kindex set solib-search-path
15643 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
15644 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15645 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
15646 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
15647 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
15648 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
15649 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
15650 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
15651 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
15652 of shared library symbols.
15653
15654 @kindex show solib-search-path
15655 @item show solib-search-path
15656 Display the current shared library search path.
15657
15658 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
15659 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
15660 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
15661 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
15662 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
15663
15664 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
15665 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
15666 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
15667 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
15668 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
15669 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
15670 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
15671 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
15672 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
15673 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
15674 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
15675 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
15676 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
15677 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
15678 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
15679 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
15680 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
15681 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
15682 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
15683 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
15684 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
15685 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
15686
15687 @table @code
15688 @item unix
15689 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
15690 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
15691 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
15692 the forward slash.
15693
15694 @item dos-based
15695 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
15696 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
15697 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
15698 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
15699 considered directory separators.
15700
15701 @item auto
15702 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
15703 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
15704 This is the default.
15705 @end table
15706 @end table
15707
15708 @cindex file name canonicalization
15709 @cindex base name differences
15710 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
15711 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
15712 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
15713 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
15714 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
15715 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
15716 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
15717 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
15718 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
15719 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
15720 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
15721 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
15722 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
15723 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
15724 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
15725
15726 @table @code
15727 @item set basenames-may-differ
15728 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
15729 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
15730
15731 @item show basenames-may-differ
15732 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
15733 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
15734 @end table
15735
15736 @node Separate Debug Files
15737 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
15738 @cindex separate debugging information files
15739 @cindex debugging information in separate files
15740 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
15741 @cindex debugging information directory, global
15742 @cindex global debugging information directory
15743 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
15744 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
15745
15746 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
15747 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
15748 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
15749 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
15750 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
15751 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
15752 install only when they need to debug a problem.
15753
15754 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
15755 file:
15756
15757 @itemize @bullet
15758 @item
15759 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
15760 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
15761 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
15762 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
15763 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
15764 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
15765 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
15766 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
15767
15768 @item
15769 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
15770 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
15771 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
15772 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
15773 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
15774 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
15775 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
15776 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
15777 below.
15778 @end itemize
15779
15780 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
15781 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
15782
15783 @itemize @bullet
15784 @item
15785 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
15786 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
15787 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
15788 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
15789 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
15790
15791 @item
15792 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
15793 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
15794 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
15795 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
15796 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
15797 hex characters, not 10.)
15798 @end itemize
15799
15800 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
15801 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
15802 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
15803 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
15804 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
15805 debug information files, in the indicated order:
15806
15807 @itemize @minus
15808 @item
15809 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
15810 @item
15811 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
15812 @item
15813 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
15814 @item
15815 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
15816 @end itemize
15817
15818 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
15819 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
15820
15821 @table @code
15822
15823 @kindex set debug-file-directory
15824 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
15825 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15826 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
15827 concatenating them by a directory separator.
15828
15829 @kindex show debug-file-directory
15830 @item show debug-file-directory
15831 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15832 information files.
15833
15834 @end table
15835
15836 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
15837 @cindex debug link sections
15838 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
15839 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
15840
15841 @itemize
15842 @item
15843 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
15844 a zero byte,
15845 @item
15846 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
15847 boundary within the section, and
15848 @item
15849 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
15850 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
15851 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
15852 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
15853 @end itemize
15854
15855 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
15856 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
15857 described above.
15858
15859 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
15860 @cindex build ID sections
15861 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
15862 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
15863 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
15864 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
15865 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
15866 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
15867 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
15868 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
15869 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
15870
15871 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
15872 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
15873 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
15874 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
15875 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
15876 in an ordinary executable.
15877
15878 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
15879 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
15880 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
15881 following commands:
15882
15883 @smallexample
15884 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
15885 @kbd{strip -g foo}
15886 @end smallexample
15887
15888 @noindent
15889 These commands remove the debugging
15890 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
15891 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
15892 two files:
15893
15894 @itemize @bullet
15895 @item
15896 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
15897 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
15898
15899 @smallexample
15900 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
15901 @end smallexample
15902
15903 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
15904 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
15905 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
15906 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
15907
15908 @item
15909 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
15910 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
15911 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
15912 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
15913 @end itemize
15914
15915 @noindent
15916
15917 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
15918 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
15919 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
15920
15921 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
15922 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
15923 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
15924 @c different ways!
15925 @ifhtml
15926 @display
15927 @html
15928 <em>x</em><sup>32</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>26</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>23</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>22</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>16</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>12</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>11</sup>
15929 + <em>x</em><sup>10</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>8</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>7</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>5</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>4</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>2</sup> + <em>x</em> + 1
15930 @end html
15931 @end display
15932 @end ifhtml
15933 @ifnothtml
15934 @display
15935 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
15936 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
15937 @end display
15938 @end ifnothtml
15939
15940 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
15941 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
15942 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
15943 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
15944 CRC.
15945
15946 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
15947 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
15948 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
15949 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
15950 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
15951 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
15952
15953 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
15954 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
15955 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
15956 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
15957 @code{0xffffffff}.
15958
15959 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
15960 @smallexample
15961 unsigned long
15962 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
15963 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
15964 @{
15965 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
15966 @{
15967 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
15968 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
15969 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
15970 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
15971 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
15972 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
15973 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
15974 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
15975 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
15976 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
15977 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
15978 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
15979 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
15980 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
15981 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
15982 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
15983 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
15984 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
15985 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
15986 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
15987 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
15988 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
15989 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
15990 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
15991 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
15992 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
15993 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
15994 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
15995 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
15996 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
15997 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
15998 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
15999 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
16000 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
16001 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
16002 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
16003 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
16004 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
16005 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
16006 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
16007 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
16008 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
16009 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
16010 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
16011 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
16012 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
16013 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
16014 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
16015 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
16016 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
16017 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
16018 0x2d02ef8d
16019 @};
16020 unsigned char *end;
16021
16022 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16023 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
16024 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
16025 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16026 @}
16027 @end smallexample
16028
16029 @noindent
16030 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
16031
16032
16033 @node Index Files
16034 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
16035 @cindex index files
16036 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
16037
16038 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
16039 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
16040 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
16041 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
16042 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
16043 startup.
16044
16045 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
16046 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
16047 using @command{objcopy}.
16048
16049 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
16050
16051 @table @code
16052 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
16053 @kindex save gdb-index
16054 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
16055 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
16056 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
16057 @var{directory}.
16058 @end table
16059
16060 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
16061 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
16062
16063 @smallexample
16064 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
16065 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
16066 @end smallexample
16067
16068 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
16069 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
16070 currently work for programs using Ada.
16071
16072 @node Symbol Errors
16073 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
16074
16075 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
16076 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
16077 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
16078 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
16079 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
16080 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
16081 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
16082 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
16083 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
16084 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16085 Messages}).
16086
16087 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
16088
16089 @table @code
16090 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
16091
16092 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
16093 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
16094 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
16095 in its outer scope blocks.
16096
16097 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
16098 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
16099 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
16100 function.
16101
16102 @item block at @var{address} out of order
16103
16104 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
16105 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
16106 do so.
16107
16108 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
16109 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
16110 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
16111 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16112 Messages}.)
16113
16114 @item bad block start address patched
16115
16116 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
16117 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
16118 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
16119
16120 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
16121 starting on the previous source line.
16122
16123 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
16124
16125 @cindex foo
16126 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
16127 larger than the size of the string table.
16128
16129 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
16130 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
16131 with this name.
16132
16133 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
16134
16135 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
16136 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
16137 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
16138
16139 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
16140 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
16141 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
16142 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
16143 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
16144 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
16145
16146 @item stub type has NULL name
16147
16148 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
16149
16150 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
16151 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
16152 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
16153 it.
16154
16155 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
16156
16157 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
16158
16159 @end table
16160
16161 @node Data Files
16162 @section GDB Data Files
16163
16164 @cindex prefix for data files
16165 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
16166 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
16167
16168 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
16169 is currently using.
16170
16171 @table @code
16172 @kindex set data-directory
16173 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
16174 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
16175 to @var{directory}.
16176
16177 @kindex show data-directory
16178 @item show data-directory
16179 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
16180 @end table
16181
16182 @cindex default data directory
16183 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
16184 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
16185 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
16186 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16187 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
16188 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16189 location.
16190
16191 The data directory may also be specified with the
16192 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
16193 @xref{Mode Options}.
16194
16195 @node Targets
16196 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
16197
16198 @cindex debugging target
16199 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
16200
16201 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
16202 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
16203 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
16204 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
16205 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
16206 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
16207 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
16208 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
16209
16210 @cindex target architecture
16211 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
16212 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
16213 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
16214 command.
16215
16216 @table @code
16217 @kindex set architecture
16218 @kindex show architecture
16219 @item set architecture @var{arch}
16220 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
16221 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
16222 supported architectures.
16223
16224 @item show architecture
16225 Show the current target architecture.
16226
16227 @item set processor
16228 @itemx processor
16229 @kindex set processor
16230 @kindex show processor
16231 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
16232 and @code{show architecture}.
16233 @end table
16234
16235 @menu
16236 * Active Targets:: Active targets
16237 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
16238 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
16239 @end menu
16240
16241 @node Active Targets
16242 @section Active Targets
16243
16244 @cindex stacking targets
16245 @cindex active targets
16246 @cindex multiple targets
16247
16248 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
16249 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
16250 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
16251 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
16252 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
16253 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
16254 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
16255 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
16256 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
16257
16258 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
16259 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
16260 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
16261 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
16262
16263 @node Target Commands
16264 @section Commands for Managing Targets
16265
16266 @table @code
16267 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
16268 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
16269 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
16270 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
16271 protocol of the target machine.
16272
16273 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
16274 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
16275 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
16276
16277 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
16278 after executing the command.
16279
16280 @kindex help target
16281 @item help target
16282 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
16283 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
16284 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
16285
16286 @item help target @var{name}
16287 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
16288 select it.
16289
16290 @kindex set gnutarget
16291 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
16292 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
16293 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
16294 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
16295 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
16296 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
16297
16298 @quotation
16299 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
16300 you must know the actual BFD name.
16301 @end quotation
16302
16303 @noindent
16304 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
16305
16306 @kindex show gnutarget
16307 @item show gnutarget
16308 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
16309 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
16310 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
16311 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
16312 @end table
16313
16314 @cindex common targets
16315 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
16316 configuration):
16317
16318 @table @code
16319 @kindex target
16320 @item target exec @var{program}
16321 @cindex executable file target
16322 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
16323 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
16324
16325 @item target core @var{filename}
16326 @cindex core dump file target
16327 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
16328 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
16329
16330 @item target remote @var{medium}
16331 @cindex remote target
16332 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
16333 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
16334 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
16335
16336 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
16337 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
16338
16339 @smallexample
16340 target remote /dev/ttya
16341 @end smallexample
16342
16343 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
16344 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
16345 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
16346 clobbered by the download.
16347
16348 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
16349 @cindex built-in simulator target
16350 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
16351 In general,
16352 @smallexample
16353 target sim
16354 load
16355 run
16356 @end smallexample
16357 @noindent
16358 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
16359 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
16360 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
16361 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
16362 Processors}.
16363
16364 @end table
16365
16366 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
16367
16368 @table @code
16369
16370 @item target nrom @var{dev}
16371 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
16372 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
16373
16374 @end table
16375
16376 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
16377 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
16378
16379 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
16380 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
16381 various aspects of this process.
16382
16383 @table @code
16384
16385 @item set hash
16386 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
16387 @cindex hash mark while downloading
16388 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
16389 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
16390 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
16391 monitor.
16392
16393 @item show hash
16394 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
16395 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
16396
16397 @item set debug monitor
16398 @kindex set debug monitor
16399 @cindex display remote monitor communications
16400 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
16401 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
16402
16403 @item show debug monitor
16404 @kindex show debug monitor
16405 Show the current status of displaying communications between
16406 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
16407 @end table
16408
16409 @table @code
16410
16411 @kindex load @var{filename}
16412 @item load @var{filename}
16413 @anchor{load}
16414 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
16415 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
16416 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
16417 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
16418 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
16419 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16420
16421 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
16422 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
16423 target is @dots{}}''
16424
16425 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
16426 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
16427 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
16428 specifies a fixed address.
16429 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
16430
16431 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
16432 load programs into flash memory.
16433
16434 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
16435 @end table
16436
16437 @node Byte Order
16438 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
16439
16440 @cindex choosing target byte order
16441 @cindex target byte order
16442
16443 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
16444 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
16445 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
16446 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
16447 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
16448 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
16449
16450 @table @code
16451 @kindex set endian
16452 @item set endian big
16453 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
16454
16455 @item set endian little
16456 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
16457
16458 @item set endian auto
16459 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
16460 executable.
16461
16462 @item show endian
16463 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
16464
16465 @end table
16466
16467 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
16468 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
16469 target system.
16470
16471
16472 @node Remote Debugging
16473 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
16474 @cindex remote debugging
16475
16476 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
16477 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
16478 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
16479 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
16480 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
16481
16482 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
16483 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
16484 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
16485 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
16486 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
16487 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
16488
16489 Other remote targets may be available in your
16490 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
16491
16492 @menu
16493 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
16494 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
16495 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
16496 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
16497 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
16498 @end menu
16499
16500 @node Connecting
16501 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
16502
16503 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
16504 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
16505 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
16506 program as the first argument.
16507
16508 @cindex @code{target remote}
16509 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
16510 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
16511 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
16512 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
16513 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
16514 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
16515
16516 @table @code
16517
16518 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
16519 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
16520 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
16521 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
16522
16523 @smallexample
16524 target remote /dev/ttyb
16525 @end smallexample
16526
16527 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
16528 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
16529 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
16530 @code{target} command.
16531
16532 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
16533 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
16534 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
16535 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
16536 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
16537 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
16538 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
16539 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
16540 target.
16541
16542 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
16543 @code{manyfarms}:
16544
16545 @smallexample
16546 target remote manyfarms:2828
16547 @end smallexample
16548
16549 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
16550 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
16551 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
16552 port 1234 on your local machine:
16553
16554 @smallexample
16555 target remote :1234
16556 @end smallexample
16557 @noindent
16558
16559 Note that the colon is still required here.
16560
16561 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
16562 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
16563 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
16564 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
16565
16566 @smallexample
16567 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
16568 @end smallexample
16569
16570 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
16571 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
16572 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
16573 cause havoc with your debugging session.
16574
16575 @item target remote | @var{command}
16576 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
16577 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
16578 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
16579 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
16580 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
16581 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
16582 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
16583 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
16584
16585 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
16586 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
16587 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
16588
16589 @end table
16590
16591 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
16592 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
16593 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
16594 need to use @kbd{run}.
16595
16596 @cindex interrupting remote programs
16597 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
16598 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
16599 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
16600 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
16601 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
16602 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
16603
16604 @smallexample
16605 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
16606 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
16607 @end smallexample
16608
16609 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
16610 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
16611 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
16612 goes back to waiting.
16613
16614 @table @code
16615 @kindex detach (remote)
16616 @item detach
16617 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
16618 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
16619 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
16620 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
16621 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
16622
16623 @kindex disconnect
16624 @item disconnect
16625 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
16626 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
16627 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
16628 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
16629 another target.
16630
16631 @cindex send command to remote monitor
16632 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
16633 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
16634 @kindex monitor
16635 @item monitor @var{cmd}
16636 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
16637 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
16638 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
16639 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
16640 and implement.
16641 @end table
16642
16643 @node File Transfer
16644 @section Sending files to a remote system
16645 @cindex remote target, file transfer
16646 @cindex file transfer
16647 @cindex sending files to remote systems
16648
16649 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
16650 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
16651 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
16652 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
16653 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
16654 the only way to upload or download files.
16655
16656 Not all remote targets support these commands.
16657
16658 @table @code
16659 @kindex remote put
16660 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
16661 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
16662 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
16663
16664 @kindex remote get
16665 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
16666 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
16667 on the host system.
16668
16669 @kindex remote delete
16670 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
16671 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
16672
16673 @end table
16674
16675 @node Server
16676 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
16677
16678 @kindex gdbserver
16679 @cindex remote connection without stubs
16680 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
16681 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
16682 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
16683
16684 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
16685 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
16686 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
16687 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
16688 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
16689 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
16690 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
16691 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
16692 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
16693 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
16694 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
16695 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
16696 choice for debugging.
16697
16698 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
16699 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
16700 protocol.
16701
16702 @quotation
16703 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
16704 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
16705 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
16706 target system with the same privileges as the user running
16707 @code{gdbserver}.
16708 @end quotation
16709
16710 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
16711 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
16712 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
16713
16714 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
16715 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
16716 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
16717 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
16718 system does all the symbol handling.
16719
16720 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
16721 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
16722 syntax is:
16723
16724 @smallexample
16725 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
16726 @end smallexample
16727
16728 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
16729 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
16730 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
16731 @file{/dev/com1}:
16732
16733 @smallexample
16734 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
16735 @end smallexample
16736
16737 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
16738 with it.
16739
16740 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
16741
16742 @smallexample
16743 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
16744 @end smallexample
16745
16746 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
16747 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
16748 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
16749 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
16750 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
16751 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
16752 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
16753 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
16754 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
16755 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
16756 @code{target remote} command.
16757
16758 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
16759 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
16760 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
16761
16762 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
16763 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
16764
16765 @smallexample
16766 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
16767 @end smallexample
16768
16769 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
16770 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
16771
16772 @pindex pidof
16773 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
16774 @code{pidof} utility:
16775
16776 @smallexample
16777 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
16778 @end smallexample
16779
16780 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
16781 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
16782 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
16783
16784 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
16785 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
16786 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
16787
16788 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
16789 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
16790 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
16791 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
16792
16793 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
16794 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
16795 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
16796 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
16797 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
16798 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
16799 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
16800 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
16801 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
16802
16803 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
16804 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
16805 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
16806 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
16807 the program you want to debug.
16808
16809 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
16810 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
16811 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
16812 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
16813 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
16814 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
16815
16816 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
16817
16818 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
16819
16820 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
16821 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
16822 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
16823 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
16824 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
16825 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
16826 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
16827 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
16828
16829 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
16830 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
16831 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
16832
16833 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
16834 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
16835 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
16836 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
16837 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
16838 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
16839 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
16840 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
16841 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
16842 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
16843 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
16844 instance closes its port after the first connection.
16845
16846 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
16847
16848 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
16849 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
16850 status information about the debugging process.
16851 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
16852 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
16853 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
16854 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
16855
16856 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
16857 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
16858 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
16859 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
16860 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
16861
16862 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
16863 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
16864 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
16865 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
16866
16867 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
16868 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
16869 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
16870 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
16871
16872 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
16873 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
16874 environment:
16875
16876 @smallexample
16877 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
16878 @end smallexample
16879
16880 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
16881
16882 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
16883
16884 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
16885 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
16886 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
16887 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
16888
16889 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
16890 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
16891 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
16892 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
16893 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
16894 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
16895 programs.
16896
16897 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16898 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
16899 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
16900 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
16901 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
16902 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
16903 already on the target.
16904
16905 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
16906 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
16907 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
16908
16909 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
16910 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
16911 Here are the available commands.
16912
16913 @table @code
16914 @item monitor help
16915 List the available monitor commands.
16916
16917 @item monitor set debug 0
16918 @itemx monitor set debug 1
16919 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
16920
16921 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
16922 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
16923 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
16924 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
16925
16926 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
16927 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
16928 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16929 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
16930 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
16931 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
16932
16933 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
16934 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
16935
16936 @item monitor exit
16937 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
16938 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
16939 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
16940 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
16941 of a multi-process mode debug session.
16942
16943 @end table
16944
16945 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
16946 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
16947
16948 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
16949 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
16950
16951 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
16952 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
16953 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
16954 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
16955 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
16956 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
16957 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
16958 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
16959 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
16960 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
16961 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
16962 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
16963
16964 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
16965
16966 @table @code
16967 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
16968
16969 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
16970 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
16971 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
16972
16973 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
16974
16975 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
16976 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
16977 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
16978 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
16979 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
16980 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
16981
16982 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
16983
16984 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
16985 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
16986 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
16987 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
16988 command for that. For example:
16989
16990 @smallexample
16991 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
16992 @end smallexample
16993
16994 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
16995 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
16996 @end table
16997
16998 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
16999 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
17000 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
17001 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
17002 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
17003 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
17004 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
17005 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
17006 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
17007 @code{gdbserver} like so:
17008
17009 @smallexample
17010 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
17011 @end smallexample
17012
17013 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
17014
17015 @smallexample
17016 $ gdb myprogram
17017 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
17018 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
17019 (@value{GDBP}) b main
17020 (@value{GDBP}) continue
17021 @end smallexample
17022
17023 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
17024 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
17025 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
17026 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
17027 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
17028 tracing.
17029
17030 @node Remote Configuration
17031 @section Remote Configuration
17032
17033 @kindex set remote
17034 @kindex show remote
17035 This section documents the configuration options available when
17036 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
17037 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
17038 system-call-allowed}.
17039
17040 @table @code
17041 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
17042 @cindex address size for remote targets
17043 @cindex bits in remote address
17044 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
17045 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
17046 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
17047 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
17048
17049 @item show remoteaddresssize
17050 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
17051
17052 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
17053 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
17054 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
17055 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
17056 remote targets.
17057
17058 @item show remotebaud
17059 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
17060
17061 @item set remotebreak
17062 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17063 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
17064 @anchor{set remotebreak}
17065 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
17066 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
17067 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
17068 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
17069 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
17070
17071 @item show remotebreak
17072 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
17073 interrupt the remote program.
17074
17075 @item set remoteflow on
17076 @itemx set remoteflow off
17077 @kindex set remoteflow
17078 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
17079 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
17080
17081 @item show remoteflow
17082 @kindex show remoteflow
17083 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
17084
17085 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
17086 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
17087 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
17088 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
17089 @code{ascii}.
17090
17091 @item show remotelogbase
17092 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
17093 protocol.
17094
17095 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
17096 @cindex record serial communications on file
17097 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
17098 default is not to record at all.
17099
17100 @item show remotelogfile.
17101 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
17102 serial communications.
17103
17104 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
17105 @cindex timeout for serial communications
17106 @cindex remote timeout
17107 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
17108 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
17109
17110 @item show remotetimeout
17111 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
17112 responses.
17113
17114 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
17115 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
17116 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
17117 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
17118 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
17119 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
17120 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
17121 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
17122
17123 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
17124 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
17125 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
17126 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
17127 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
17128 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
17129 as unlimited.
17130
17131 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
17132 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
17133 a remote hardware watchpoint.
17134
17135 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
17136 @itemx show remote exec-file
17137 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
17138 @cindex executable file, for remote target
17139 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
17140 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
17141 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
17142 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
17143
17144 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
17145 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17146 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
17147 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
17148 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
17149 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
17150 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
17151 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
17152 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
17153 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
17154
17155 @item show interrupt-sequence
17156 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
17157 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
17158 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
17159 also known as Magic SysRq g.
17160
17161 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
17162 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
17163 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
17164 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
17165 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
17166 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
17167
17168 @item show interrupt-on-connect
17169 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
17170 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
17171
17172 @kindex set tcp
17173 @kindex show tcp
17174 @item set tcp auto-retry on
17175 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
17176 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
17177 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
17178 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
17179 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
17180 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
17181 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
17182 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
17183
17184 @item set tcp auto-retry off
17185 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
17186
17187 @item show tcp auto-retry
17188 Show the current auto-retry setting.
17189
17190 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
17191 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
17192 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
17193 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
17194 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
17195 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
17196 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
17197 value.
17198
17199 @item show tcp connect-timeout
17200 Show the current connection timeout setting.
17201 @end table
17202
17203 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
17204 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
17205 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
17206 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
17207 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
17208 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
17209 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
17210 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
17211 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
17212
17213 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
17214 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
17215 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
17216 @value{GDBN} developers.
17217
17218 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
17219 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
17220 are:
17221
17222 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
17223 @item Command Name
17224 @tab Remote Packet
17225 @tab Related Features
17226
17227 @item @code{fetch-register}
17228 @tab @code{p}
17229 @tab @code{info registers}
17230
17231 @item @code{set-register}
17232 @tab @code{P}
17233 @tab @code{set}
17234
17235 @item @code{binary-download}
17236 @tab @code{X}
17237 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
17238
17239 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
17240 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
17241 @tab @code{info auxv}
17242
17243 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
17244 @tab @code{qSymbol}
17245 @tab Detecting multiple threads
17246
17247 @item @code{attach}
17248 @tab @code{vAttach}
17249 @tab @code{attach}
17250
17251 @item @code{verbose-resume}
17252 @tab @code{vCont}
17253 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
17254
17255 @item @code{run}
17256 @tab @code{vRun}
17257 @tab @code{run}
17258
17259 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
17260 @tab @code{Z0}
17261 @tab @code{break}
17262
17263 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
17264 @tab @code{Z1}
17265 @tab @code{hbreak}
17266
17267 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
17268 @tab @code{Z2}
17269 @tab @code{watch}
17270
17271 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
17272 @tab @code{Z3}
17273 @tab @code{rwatch}
17274
17275 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
17276 @tab @code{Z4}
17277 @tab @code{awatch}
17278
17279 @item @code{target-features}
17280 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
17281 @tab @code{set architecture}
17282
17283 @item @code{library-info}
17284 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
17285 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
17286
17287 @item @code{memory-map}
17288 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
17289 @tab @code{info mem}
17290
17291 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
17292 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
17293 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
17294
17295 @item @code{read-spu-object}
17296 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
17297 @tab @code{info spu}
17298
17299 @item @code{write-spu-object}
17300 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
17301 @tab @code{info spu}
17302
17303 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
17304 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
17305 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
17306
17307 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
17308 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
17309 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
17310
17311 @item @code{threads}
17312 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
17313 @tab @code{info threads}
17314
17315 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
17316 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
17317 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
17318
17319 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
17320 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
17321 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
17322
17323 @item @code{search-memory}
17324 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
17325 @tab @code{find}
17326
17327 @item @code{supported-packets}
17328 @tab @code{qSupported}
17329 @tab Remote communications parameters
17330
17331 @item @code{pass-signals}
17332 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
17333 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
17334
17335 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
17336 @tab @code{vFile:close}
17337 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17338
17339 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
17340 @tab @code{vFile:open}
17341 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17342
17343 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
17344 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
17345 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17346
17347 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
17348 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
17349 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17350
17351 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
17352 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
17353 @tab @code{remote delete}
17354
17355 @item @code{noack-packet}
17356 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
17357 @tab Packet acknowledgment
17358
17359 @item @code{osdata}
17360 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
17361 @tab @code{info os}
17362
17363 @item @code{query-attached}
17364 @tab @code{qAttached}
17365 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
17366
17367 @item @code{traceframe-info}
17368 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
17369 @tab Traceframe info
17370
17371 @item @code{install-in-trace}
17372 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
17373 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
17374
17375 @item @code{disable-randomization}
17376 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
17377 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
17378 @end multitable
17379
17380 @node Remote Stub
17381 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
17382
17383 @cindex debugging stub, example
17384 @cindex remote stub, example
17385 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
17386 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
17387 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
17388 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
17389 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
17390 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
17391 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
17392 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
17393
17394 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
17395 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
17396 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
17397 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
17398 program, you need:
17399
17400 @enumerate
17401 @item
17402 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
17403 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
17404 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
17405
17406 @item
17407 A C subroutine library to support your program's
17408 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
17409
17410 @item
17411 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
17412 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
17413 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
17414 documentation.
17415 @end enumerate
17416
17417 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
17418 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
17419 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
17420
17421 @table @emph
17422 @item On the host,
17423 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
17424 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
17425 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
17426
17427 @item On the target,
17428 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
17429 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
17430 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
17431
17432 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
17433 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
17434 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
17435 @end table
17436
17437 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
17438 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
17439 @sc{sparc} boards.
17440
17441 @cindex remote serial stub list
17442 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
17443
17444 @table @code
17445
17446 @item i386-stub.c
17447 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
17448 @cindex Intel
17449 @cindex i386
17450 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
17451
17452 @item m68k-stub.c
17453 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
17454 @cindex Motorola 680x0
17455 @cindex m680x0
17456 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
17457
17458 @item sh-stub.c
17459 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
17460 @cindex Renesas
17461 @cindex SH
17462 For Renesas SH architectures.
17463
17464 @item sparc-stub.c
17465 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
17466 @cindex Sparc
17467 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
17468
17469 @item sparcl-stub.c
17470 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
17471 @cindex Fujitsu
17472 @cindex SparcLite
17473 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
17474
17475 @end table
17476
17477 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
17478 recently added stubs.
17479
17480 @menu
17481 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
17482 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
17483 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
17484 @end menu
17485
17486 @node Stub Contents
17487 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
17488
17489 @cindex remote serial stub
17490 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
17491 subroutines:
17492
17493 @table @code
17494 @item set_debug_traps
17495 @findex set_debug_traps
17496 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
17497 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
17498 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
17499 beginning of your program.
17500
17501 @item handle_exception
17502 @findex handle_exception
17503 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
17504 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
17505 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
17506 run when a trap is triggered.
17507
17508 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
17509 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
17510 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
17511 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
17512 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
17513 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
17514 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
17515 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
17516 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
17517 machine.
17518
17519 @item breakpoint
17520 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
17521 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
17522 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
17523 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
17524 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
17525 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
17526 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
17527 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
17528 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
17529 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
17530 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
17531
17532 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
17533 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
17534 start of your debugging session.
17535 @end table
17536
17537 @node Bootstrapping
17538 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
17539
17540 @cindex remote stub, support routines
17541 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
17542 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
17543 debugging target machine.
17544
17545 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
17546 serial port.
17547
17548 @table @code
17549 @item int getDebugChar()
17550 @findex getDebugChar
17551 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
17552 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
17553 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
17554
17555 @item void putDebugChar(int)
17556 @findex putDebugChar
17557 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
17558 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
17559 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
17560 @end table
17561
17562 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
17563 @cindex interrupting remote targets
17564 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
17565 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
17566 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
17567 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
17568 remote system to stop.
17569
17570 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
17571 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
17572 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
17573 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
17574
17575 Other routines you need to supply are:
17576
17577 @table @code
17578 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
17579 @findex exceptionHandler
17580 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
17581 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
17582 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
17583 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
17584 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
17585 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
17586 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
17587 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
17588 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
17589 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
17590 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
17591 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
17592 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
17593
17594 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
17595 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
17596 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
17597 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
17598 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
17599
17600 @item void flush_i_cache()
17601 @findex flush_i_cache
17602 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
17603 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
17604 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
17605
17606 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
17607 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
17608 @end table
17609
17610 @noindent
17611 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
17612
17613 @table @code
17614 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
17615 @findex memset
17616 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
17617 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
17618 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
17619 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
17620 @end table
17621
17622 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
17623 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
17624 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
17625 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
17626
17627
17628 @node Debug Session
17629 @subsection Putting it All Together
17630
17631 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
17632 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
17633 steps.
17634
17635 @enumerate
17636 @item
17637 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
17638 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
17639 @display
17640 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
17641 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
17642 @end display
17643
17644 @item
17645 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
17646
17647 @smallexample
17648 set_debug_traps();
17649 breakpoint();
17650 @end smallexample
17651
17652 @item
17653 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
17654 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
17655
17656 @smallexample
17657 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
17658 @end smallexample
17659
17660 @noindent
17661 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
17662 function in your program, that function is called when
17663 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
17664 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
17665 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
17666
17667 @item
17668 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
17669 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
17670
17671 @item
17672 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
17673 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
17674
17675 @item
17676 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
17677 @c document that. FIXME.
17678 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
17679 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
17680
17681 @item
17682 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
17683 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17684
17685 @end enumerate
17686
17687 @node Configurations
17688 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
17689
17690 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
17691 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
17692 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
17693
17694 There are three major categories of configurations: native
17695 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
17696 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
17697 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
17698 are quite different from each other.
17699
17700 @menu
17701 * Native::
17702 * Embedded OS::
17703 * Embedded Processors::
17704 * Architectures::
17705 @end menu
17706
17707 @node Native
17708 @section Native
17709
17710 This section describes details specific to particular native
17711 configurations.
17712
17713 @menu
17714 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
17715 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
17716 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
17717 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
17718 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
17719 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
17720 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
17721 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
17722 @end menu
17723
17724 @node HP-UX
17725 @subsection HP-UX
17726
17727 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
17728 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
17729 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
17730
17731
17732 @node BSD libkvm Interface
17733 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
17734
17735 @cindex libkvm
17736 @cindex kernel memory image
17737 @cindex kernel crash dump
17738
17739 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
17740 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
17741 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
17742 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
17743 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
17744 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
17745 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
17746 @code{kvm} target:
17747
17748 @smallexample
17749 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
17750 @end smallexample
17751
17752 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
17753 argument:
17754
17755 @smallexample
17756 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
17757 @end smallexample
17758
17759 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
17760 available:
17761
17762 @table @code
17763 @kindex kvm
17764 @item kvm pcb
17765 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
17766
17767 @item kvm proc
17768 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
17769 modern FreeBSD systems.
17770 @end table
17771
17772 @node SVR4 Process Information
17773 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
17774 @cindex /proc
17775 @cindex examine process image
17776 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
17777
17778 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
17779 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
17780 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
17781 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
17782 proc} is available to report information about the process running
17783 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
17784 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
17785 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
17786 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
17787
17788 @table @code
17789 @kindex info proc
17790 @cindex process ID
17791 @item info proc
17792 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
17793 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
17794 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
17795 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
17796 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
17797 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
17798 executable file's absolute file name.
17799
17800 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
17801 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
17802 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
17803 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
17804 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
17805 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
17806
17807 @item info proc mappings
17808 @cindex memory address space mappings
17809 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
17810 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
17811 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
17812 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
17813 memory access rights to that range.
17814
17815 @item info proc stat
17816 @itemx info proc status
17817 @cindex process detailed status information
17818 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
17819 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
17820 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
17821 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
17822 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
17823 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
17824 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
17825
17826 @item info proc all
17827 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
17828 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
17829
17830 @ignore
17831 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
17832 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
17833 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
17834 @kindex info proc times
17835 @item info proc times
17836 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
17837 its children.
17838
17839 @kindex info proc id
17840 @item info proc id
17841 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
17842 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
17843 @end ignore
17844
17845 @item set procfs-trace
17846 @kindex set procfs-trace
17847 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
17848 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
17849
17850 @item show procfs-trace
17851 @kindex show procfs-trace
17852 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
17853
17854 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
17855 @kindex set procfs-file
17856 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
17857 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
17858 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
17859 standard output.
17860
17861 @item show procfs-file
17862 @kindex show procfs-file
17863 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
17864
17865 @item proc-trace-entry
17866 @itemx proc-trace-exit
17867 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
17868 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
17869 @kindex proc-trace-entry
17870 @kindex proc-trace-exit
17871 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
17872 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
17873 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
17874 from the @code{syscall} interface.
17875
17876 @item info pidlist
17877 @kindex info pidlist
17878 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
17879 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
17880 processes and all the threads within each process.
17881
17882 @item info meminfo
17883 @kindex info meminfo
17884 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
17885 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
17886 @end table
17887
17888 @node DJGPP Native
17889 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
17890 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
17891 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
17892 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
17893
17894 @cindex DPMI
17895 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
17896 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
17897 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
17898 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
17899
17900 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
17901 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
17902 subsection describes those commands.
17903
17904 @table @code
17905 @kindex info dos
17906 @item info dos
17907 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
17908 information about the target system and important OS structures.
17909
17910 @kindex sysinfo
17911 @cindex MS-DOS system info
17912 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
17913 @item info dos sysinfo
17914 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
17915 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
17916 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
17917
17918 @cindex GDT
17919 @cindex LDT
17920 @cindex IDT
17921 @cindex segment descriptor tables
17922 @cindex descriptor tables display
17923 @item info dos gdt
17924 @itemx info dos ldt
17925 @itemx info dos idt
17926 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
17927 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
17928 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
17929 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
17930 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
17931 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
17932 rights.
17933
17934 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
17935 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
17936 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
17937 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
17938 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
17939
17940 @cindex garbled pointers
17941 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
17942 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
17943 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
17944 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
17945 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
17946 debugged program's data segment:
17947
17948 @smallexample
17949 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
17950 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
17951 @end smallexample
17952
17953 @noindent
17954 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
17955 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
17956
17957 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
17958 @item info dos pde
17959 @itemx info dos pte
17960 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
17961 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
17962 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
17963 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
17964 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
17965 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
17966 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
17967 that is currently in use.
17968
17969 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
17970 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
17971 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
17972 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
17973 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
17974 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
17975 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
17976
17977 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
17978 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
17979 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
17980 controller.
17981
17982 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
17983
17984 @cindex physical address from linear address
17985 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
17986 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
17987 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
17988 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
17989 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
17990 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
17991 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
17992
17993 @smallexample
17994 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
17995 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
17996 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
17997 @end smallexample
17998
17999 @noindent
18000 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
18001 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
18002 attributes of that page.
18003
18004 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
18005 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
18006 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
18007 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
18008 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
18009 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
18010
18011 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
18012 transfer buffer:
18013
18014 @smallexample
18015 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
18016 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
18017 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
18018 @end smallexample
18019
18020 @noindent
18021 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
18022 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
18023 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
18024 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
18025 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
18026
18027 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
18028 @end table
18029
18030 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
18031 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
18032 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
18033 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
18034
18035 @table @code
18036 @kindex set com1base
18037 @kindex set com1irq
18038 @kindex set com2base
18039 @kindex set com2irq
18040 @kindex set com3base
18041 @kindex set com3irq
18042 @kindex set com4base
18043 @kindex set com4irq
18044 @item set com1base @var{addr}
18045 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
18046 port.
18047
18048 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
18049 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
18050 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
18051
18052 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
18053 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
18054 other 3 COM ports.
18055
18056 @kindex show com1base
18057 @kindex show com1irq
18058 @kindex show com2base
18059 @kindex show com2irq
18060 @kindex show com3base
18061 @kindex show com3irq
18062 @kindex show com4base
18063 @kindex show com4irq
18064 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
18065 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
18066 lines used by the COM ports.
18067
18068 @item info serial
18069 @kindex info serial
18070 @cindex DOS serial port status
18071 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
18072 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
18073 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
18074 counts of various errors encountered so far.
18075 @end table
18076
18077
18078 @node Cygwin Native
18079 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
18080 @cindex MS Windows debugging
18081 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
18082 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
18083
18084 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
18085 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
18086
18087 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
18088 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
18089 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
18090 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
18091 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
18092 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
18093 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
18094 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
18095
18096 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
18097 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
18098 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
18099
18100 @table @code
18101 @kindex info w32
18102 @item info w32
18103 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
18104 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18105
18106 @item info w32 selector
18107 This command displays information returned by
18108 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
18109 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
18110 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
18111 Without argument, this command displays information
18112 about the six segment registers.
18113
18114 @item info w32 thread-information-block
18115 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
18116 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
18117 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
18118
18119 @kindex info dll
18120 @item info dll
18121 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
18122
18123 @kindex dll-symbols
18124 @item dll-symbols
18125 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
18126 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
18127
18128 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
18129 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
18130 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
18131 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
18132 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
18133 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
18134 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
18135 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
18136 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
18137 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
18138 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
18139
18140 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
18141 @item show cygwin-exceptions
18142 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
18143 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
18144
18145 @kindex set new-console
18146 @item set new-console @var{mode}
18147 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
18148 be started in a new console on next start.
18149 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
18150 be started in the same console as the debugger.
18151
18152 @kindex show new-console
18153 @item show new-console
18154 Displays whether a new console is used
18155 when the debuggee is started.
18156
18157 @kindex set new-group
18158 @item set new-group @var{mode}
18159 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
18160 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
18161 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
18162 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
18163
18164 @kindex show new-group
18165 @item show new-group
18166 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
18167
18168 @kindex set debugevents
18169 @item set debugevents
18170 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
18171 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
18172 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
18173 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
18174 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
18175
18176 @kindex set debugexec
18177 @item set debugexec
18178 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
18179 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
18180
18181 @kindex set debugexceptions
18182 @item set debugexceptions
18183 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
18184 debuggee seen by the debugger.
18185
18186 @kindex set debugmemory
18187 @item set debugmemory
18188 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
18189 and writes by the debugger.
18190
18191 @kindex set shell
18192 @item set shell
18193 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
18194 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
18195
18196 @kindex show shell
18197 @item show shell
18198 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
18199
18200 @end table
18201
18202 @menu
18203 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
18204 @end menu
18205
18206 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
18207 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
18208 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
18209 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
18210
18211 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
18212 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
18213 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
18214 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
18215 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
18216 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
18217 ``minimal symbols''.
18218
18219 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
18220 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
18221 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
18222 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
18223 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
18224 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
18225 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
18226 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
18227 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
18228 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
18229
18230 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
18231
18232 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
18233 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
18234 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
18235 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
18236 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
18237 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
18238 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
18239 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
18240 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
18241
18242 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
18243 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
18244 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
18245 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
18246 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
18247 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
18248
18249 @smallexample
18250 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
18251 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
18252
18253 Non-debugging symbols:
18254 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
18255 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
18256 @end smallexample
18257
18258 @smallexample
18259 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
18260 All functions matching regular expression "!":
18261
18262 Non-debugging symbols:
18263 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
18264 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
18265 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
18266 [etc...]
18267 @end smallexample
18268
18269 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
18270
18271 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
18272 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
18273 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
18274 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
18275 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
18276 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
18277 a function within a DLL without a running program.
18278
18279 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
18280 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
18281 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
18282 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
18283 problem:
18284
18285 @smallexample
18286 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
18287 $1 = 268572168
18288 @end smallexample
18289
18290 @smallexample
18291 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
18292 0x10021610: "\230y\""
18293 @end smallexample
18294
18295 And two possible solutions:
18296
18297 @smallexample
18298 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
18299 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18300 @end smallexample
18301
18302 @smallexample
18303 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
18304 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
18305 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
18306 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
18307 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
18308 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18309 @end smallexample
18310
18311 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
18312 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
18313 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
18314 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
18315 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
18316
18317 @smallexample
18318 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
18319 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
18320 @end smallexample
18321
18322 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
18323 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
18324 safe.
18325
18326 @node Hurd Native
18327 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
18328 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
18329
18330 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
18331 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
18332
18333 @table @code
18334 @item set signals
18335 @itemx set sigs
18336 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
18337 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
18338 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
18339 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
18340 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
18341 @code{signals}.
18342
18343 @item show signals
18344 @itemx show sigs
18345 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
18346 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
18347 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
18348
18349 @item set signal-thread
18350 @itemx set sigthread
18351 @kindex set signal-thread
18352 @kindex set sigthread
18353 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
18354 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
18355 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
18356 signal-thread}.
18357
18358 @item show signal-thread
18359 @itemx show sigthread
18360 @kindex show signal-thread
18361 @kindex show sigthread
18362 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
18363 delivered a signal.
18364
18365 @item set stopped
18366 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
18367 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
18368 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
18369 continued by delivering a signal to it.
18370
18371 @item show stopped
18372 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
18373 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
18374 stopped.
18375
18376 @item set exceptions
18377 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
18378 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
18379 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
18380 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
18381 trapping on.
18382
18383 @item show exceptions
18384 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
18385 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
18386
18387 @item set task pause
18388 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
18389 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18390 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18391 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
18392 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
18393 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
18394 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
18395 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
18396 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
18397
18398 @item show task pause
18399 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
18400 Show the current state of task suspension.
18401
18402 @item set task detach-suspend-count
18403 @cindex task suspend count
18404 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18405 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
18406 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
18407
18408 @item show task detach-suspend-count
18409 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
18410
18411 @item set task exception-port
18412 @itemx set task excp
18413 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18414 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
18415 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
18416 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
18417
18418 @item set noninvasive
18419 @cindex noninvasive task options
18420 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
18421 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
18422 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
18423 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
18424
18425 @item info send-rights
18426 @itemx info receive-rights
18427 @itemx info port-rights
18428 @itemx info port-sets
18429 @itemx info dead-names
18430 @itemx info ports
18431 @itemx info psets
18432 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18433 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18434 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18435 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18436 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18437 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
18438 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
18439 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
18440 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
18441
18442 @item set thread pause
18443 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
18444 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18445 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18446 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
18447 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
18448 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
18449 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
18450 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
18451 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
18452 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
18453 only the current thread.
18454
18455 @item show thread pause
18456 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
18457 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
18458
18459 @item set thread run
18460 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
18461
18462 @item show thread run
18463 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
18464
18465 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
18466 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18467 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18468 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
18469 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
18470 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
18471 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
18472
18473 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
18474 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
18475 detaching.
18476
18477 @item set thread exception-port
18478 @itemx set thread excp
18479 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
18480 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
18481 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
18482
18483 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
18484 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
18485 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
18486 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
18487
18488 @item set thread default
18489 @itemx show thread default
18490 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18491 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
18492 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
18493 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
18494 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
18495 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
18496 the non-default commands.
18497 @end table
18498
18499
18500 @node Neutrino
18501 @subsection QNX Neutrino
18502 @cindex QNX Neutrino
18503
18504 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
18505 Neutrino target:
18506
18507 @table @code
18508 @item set debug nto-debug
18509 @kindex set debug nto-debug
18510 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
18511 Neutrino support.
18512
18513 @item show debug nto-debug
18514 @kindex show debug nto-debug
18515 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
18516 @end table
18517
18518 @node Darwin
18519 @subsection Darwin
18520 @cindex Darwin
18521
18522 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
18523
18524 @table @code
18525 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
18526 @kindex set debug darwin
18527 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
18528 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
18529
18530 @item show debug darwin
18531 @kindex show debug darwin
18532 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
18533
18534 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
18535 @kindex set debug mach-o
18536 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
18537 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
18538 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
18539 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
18540 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
18541 usage.
18542
18543 @item show debug mach-o
18544 @kindex show debug mach-o
18545 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
18546
18547 @item set mach-exceptions on
18548 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
18549 @kindex set mach-exceptions
18550 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
18551 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
18552 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
18553 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
18554
18555 @item show mach-exceptions
18556 @kindex show mach-exceptions
18557 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
18558 @end table
18559
18560
18561 @node Embedded OS
18562 @section Embedded Operating Systems
18563
18564 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
18565 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
18566 architectures.
18567
18568 @menu
18569 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
18570 @end menu
18571
18572 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
18573 various real-time operating systems.
18574
18575 @node VxWorks
18576 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
18577
18578 @cindex VxWorks
18579
18580 @table @code
18581
18582 @kindex target vxworks
18583 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
18584 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
18585 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
18586
18587 @end table
18588
18589 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
18590 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
18591
18592 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
18593 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
18594 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18595 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
18596 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
18597 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
18598 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
18599
18600 @table @code
18601 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
18602 @kindex vxworks-timeout
18603 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
18604 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18605 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
18606 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
18607 of a thin network line.
18608 @end table
18609
18610 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
18611 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
18612 procedures.
18613
18614 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
18615 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
18616 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
18617 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
18618 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
18619 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
18620 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
18621 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
18622 manual.
18623 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
18624
18625 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
18626 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18627 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
18628 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
18629
18630 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18631
18632 @smallexample
18633 (vxgdb)
18634 @end smallexample
18635
18636 @menu
18637 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
18638 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
18639 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
18640 @end menu
18641
18642 @node VxWorks Connection
18643 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
18644
18645 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
18646 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
18647
18648 @smallexample
18649 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
18650 @end smallexample
18651
18652 @need 750
18653 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18654
18655 @smallexample
18656 Attaching remote machine across net...
18657 Connected to tt.
18658 @end smallexample
18659
18660 @need 1000
18661 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
18662 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
18663 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
18664 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
18665 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
18666
18667 @smallexample
18668 prog.o: No such file or directory.
18669 @end smallexample
18670
18671 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
18672 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
18673 command again.
18674
18675 @node VxWorks Download
18676 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
18677
18678 @cindex download to VxWorks
18679 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
18680 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
18681 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
18682 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
18683 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
18684 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
18685 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
18686 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
18687 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
18688 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
18689 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
18690 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
18691 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
18692 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
18693 program, type this on VxWorks:
18694
18695 @smallexample
18696 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
18697 @end smallexample
18698
18699 @noindent
18700 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18701
18702 @smallexample
18703 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
18704 (vxgdb) load prog.o
18705 @end smallexample
18706
18707 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
18708
18709 @smallexample
18710 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
18711 @end smallexample
18712
18713 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
18714 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
18715 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
18716 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
18717 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
18718 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
18719 table.)
18720
18721 @node VxWorks Attach
18722 @subsubsection Running Tasks
18723
18724 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
18725 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
18726 follows:
18727
18728 @smallexample
18729 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
18730 @end smallexample
18731
18732 @noindent
18733 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
18734 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
18735 the time of attachment.
18736
18737 @node Embedded Processors
18738 @section Embedded Processors
18739
18740 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
18741 configurations.
18742
18743 @cindex send command to simulator
18744 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
18745 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
18746
18747 @table @code
18748 @item sim @var{command}
18749 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
18750 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
18751 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
18752 acceptable commands.
18753 @end table
18754
18755
18756 @menu
18757 * ARM:: ARM RDI
18758 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
18759 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
18760 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
18761 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
18762 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
18763 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
18764 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
18765 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
18766 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
18767 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
18768 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
18769 * CRIS:: CRIS
18770 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
18771 @end menu
18772
18773 @node ARM
18774 @subsection ARM
18775 @cindex ARM RDI
18776
18777 @table @code
18778 @kindex target rdi
18779 @item target rdi @var{dev}
18780 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
18781 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
18782 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
18783
18784 @kindex target rdp
18785 @item target rdp @var{dev}
18786 ARM Demon monitor.
18787
18788 @end table
18789
18790 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
18791
18792 @table @code
18793 @item set arm disassembler
18794 @kindex set arm
18795 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
18796 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
18797
18798 @item show arm disassembler
18799 @kindex show arm
18800 Show the current disassembly style.
18801
18802 @item set arm apcs32
18803 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
18804 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
18805
18806 @item show arm apcs32
18807 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
18808
18809 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
18810 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
18811 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
18812
18813 @table @code
18814 @item auto
18815 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
18816 @item softfpa
18817 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
18818 processors.
18819 @item fpa
18820 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
18821 @item softvfp
18822 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
18823 @item vfp
18824 VFP co-processor.
18825 @end table
18826
18827 @item show arm fpu
18828 Show the current type of the FPU.
18829
18830 @item set arm abi
18831 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
18832
18833 @item show arm abi
18834 Show the currently used ABI.
18835
18836 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18837 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
18838 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
18839 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
18840 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
18841 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
18842 register).
18843
18844 @item show arm fallback-mode
18845 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
18846
18847 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18848 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
18849 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
18850 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
18851 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
18852
18853 @item show arm force-mode
18854 Show the current forced instruction mode.
18855
18856 @item set debug arm
18857 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
18858 target support subsystem.
18859
18860 @item show debug arm
18861 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
18862 @end table
18863
18864 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
18865 using the RDI interface:
18866
18867 @table @code
18868 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18869 @kindex rdilogfile
18870 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
18871 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
18872 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
18873 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
18874 @file{rdi.log}.
18875
18876 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
18877 @kindex rdilogenable
18878 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
18879 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
18880 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
18881 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
18882 are logged to a file.
18883
18884 @item set rdiromatzero
18885 @kindex set rdiromatzero
18886 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
18887 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
18888 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
18889 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
18890 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
18891
18892 @item show rdiromatzero
18893 @kindex show rdiromatzero
18894 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
18895
18896 @item set rdiheartbeat
18897 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
18898 @cindex RDI heartbeat
18899 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
18900 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
18901 well as the Angel monitor.
18902
18903 @item show rdiheartbeat
18904 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
18905 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
18906 @end table
18907
18908 @table @code
18909 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
18910 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
18911
18912 @table @code
18913 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
18914 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
18915 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
18916 The default value is @code{all}.
18917
18918 @table @code
18919 @item none
18920 @item demon
18921 @item angel
18922 @item redboot
18923 @item all
18924 @end table
18925 @end table
18926 @end table
18927
18928 @node M32R/D
18929 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
18930
18931 @table @code
18932 @kindex target m32r
18933 @item target m32r @var{dev}
18934 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
18935
18936 @kindex target m32rsdi
18937 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
18938 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
18939 @end table
18940
18941 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
18942
18943 @table @code
18944 @item set download-path @var{path}
18945 @kindex set download-path
18946 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
18947 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
18948
18949 @item show download-path
18950 @kindex show download-path
18951 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
18952
18953 @item set board-address @var{addr}
18954 @kindex set board-address
18955 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
18956 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
18957
18958 @item show board-address
18959 @kindex show board-address
18960 Show the current IP address of the target board.
18961
18962 @item set server-address @var{addr}
18963 @kindex set server-address
18964 @cindex download server address (M32R)
18965 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
18966 host machine.
18967
18968 @item show server-address
18969 @kindex show server-address
18970 Display the IP address of the download server.
18971
18972 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18973 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
18974 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
18975 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
18976 executable file is uploaded.
18977
18978 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18979 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
18980 Test the @code{upload} command.
18981 @end table
18982
18983 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
18984
18985 @table @code
18986 @item sdireset
18987 @kindex sdireset
18988 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
18989 This command resets the SDI connection.
18990
18991 @item sdistatus
18992 @kindex sdistatus
18993 This command shows the SDI connection status.
18994
18995 @item debug_chaos
18996 @kindex debug_chaos
18997 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
18998 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
18999
19000 @item use_debug_dma
19001 @kindex use_debug_dma
19002 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
19003
19004 @item use_mon_code
19005 @kindex use_mon_code
19006 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
19007
19008 @item use_ib_break
19009 @kindex use_ib_break
19010 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
19011
19012 @item use_dbt_break
19013 @kindex use_dbt_break
19014 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
19015 @end table
19016
19017 @node M68K
19018 @subsection M68k
19019
19020 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
19021 target command for the following ROM monitor.
19022
19023 @table @code
19024
19025 @kindex target dbug
19026 @item target dbug @var{dev}
19027 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
19028
19029 @end table
19030
19031 @node MicroBlaze
19032 @subsection MicroBlaze
19033 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
19034 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
19035
19036 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
19037 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
19038 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
19039 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
19040 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
19041 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
19042 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
19043 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
19044 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
19045 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
19046 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
19047
19048 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
19049
19050 @table @code
19051 @item target remote :1234
19052 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
19053 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
19054
19055 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
19056 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
19057 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
19058
19059 @item load
19060 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
19061
19062 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
19063 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
19064
19065 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
19066 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
19067 @end table
19068
19069 @node MIPS Embedded
19070 @subsection MIPS Embedded
19071
19072 @cindex MIPS boards
19073 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
19074 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
19075 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
19076
19077 @need 1000
19078 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
19079
19080 @table @code
19081 @item target mips @var{port}
19082 @kindex target mips @var{port}
19083 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
19084 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
19085 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
19086 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
19087 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
19088 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
19089
19090 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
19091 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
19092 debugger:
19093
19094 @smallexample
19095 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
19096 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
19097 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
19098 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
19099 (@value{GDBP}) run
19100 @end smallexample
19101
19102 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
19103 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
19104 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
19105 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
19106 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
19107
19108 @item target pmon @var{port}
19109 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
19110 PMON ROM monitor.
19111
19112 @item target ddb @var{port}
19113 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
19114 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
19115
19116 @item target lsi @var{port}
19117 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
19118 LSI variant of PMON.
19119
19120 @kindex target r3900
19121 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
19122 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
19123
19124 @kindex target array
19125 @item target array @var{dev}
19126 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
19127
19128 @end table
19129
19130
19131 @noindent
19132 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
19133
19134 @table @code
19135 @item set mipsfpu double
19136 @itemx set mipsfpu single
19137 @itemx set mipsfpu none
19138 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
19139 @itemx show mipsfpu
19140 @kindex set mipsfpu
19141 @kindex show mipsfpu
19142 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
19143 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
19144 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
19145 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
19146 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
19147 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
19148 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
19149 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
19150 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
19151 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
19152 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
19153 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
19154 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
19155
19156 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
19157 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
19158 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
19159
19160 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
19161 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
19162
19163 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
19164 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
19165 @itemx show timeout
19166 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
19167 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
19168 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
19169 @kindex set timeout
19170 @kindex show timeout
19171 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
19172 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
19173 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
19174 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
19175 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
19176 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
19177 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
19178 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
19179 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
19180 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
19181
19182 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
19183 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
19184 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
19185 to run before stopping.
19186
19187 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
19188 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19189 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
19190 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
19191 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
19192 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
19193
19194 @item show syn-garbage-limit
19195 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19196 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
19197 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
19198
19199 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
19200 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19201 @cindex remote monitor prompt
19202 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
19203 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
19204 @table @asis
19205 @item pmon target
19206 @samp{PMON}
19207 @item ddb target
19208 @samp{NEC010}
19209 @item lsi target
19210 @samp{PMON>}
19211 @end table
19212
19213 @item show monitor-prompt
19214 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19215 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
19216 remote monitor.
19217
19218 @item set monitor-warnings
19219 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19220 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
19221 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
19222 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
19223 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
19224
19225 @item show monitor-warnings
19226 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19227 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
19228
19229 @item pmon @var{command}
19230 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
19231 @cindex send PMON command
19232 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
19233 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
19234 @end table
19235
19236 @node OpenRISC 1000
19237 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
19238 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
19239
19240 @cindex or1k boards
19241 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
19242 about platform and commands.
19243
19244 @table @code
19245
19246 @kindex target jtag
19247 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
19248
19249 Connects to remote JTAG server.
19250 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
19251 connected via parallel port to the board.
19252
19253 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
19254
19255 @kindex or1ksim
19256 @item or1ksim @var{command}
19257 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
19258 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
19259
19260 @kindex info or1k spr
19261 @item info or1k spr
19262 Displays spr groups.
19263
19264 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
19265 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
19266 Displays register names in selected group.
19267
19268 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
19269 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
19270 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
19271 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
19272 Shows information about specified spr register.
19273
19274 @kindex spr
19275 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
19276 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
19277 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
19278 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
19279 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
19280 @end table
19281
19282 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
19283 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
19284 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
19285 triggers can be set using:
19286 @table @code
19287 @item $LEA/$LDATA
19288 Load effective address/data
19289 @item $SEA/$SDATA
19290 Store effective address/data
19291 @item $AEA/$ADATA
19292 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
19293 @item $FETCH
19294 Fetch data
19295 @end table
19296
19297 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
19298 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
19299
19300 @code{htrace} commands:
19301 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
19302 @table @code
19303 @kindex hwatch
19304 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
19305 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
19306 or Data. For example:
19307
19308 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19309
19310 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19311
19312 @kindex htrace
19313 @item htrace info
19314 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
19315
19316 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
19317 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
19318
19319 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
19320 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
19321
19322 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
19323 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
19324
19325 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
19326 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
19327 triggered.
19328
19329 @item htrace enable
19330 @itemx htrace disable
19331 Enables/disables the HW trace.
19332
19333 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
19334 Clears currently recorded trace data.
19335
19336 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
19337 will be written there.
19338
19339 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
19340 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
19341
19342 @item htrace mode continuous
19343 Set continuous trace mode.
19344
19345 @item htrace mode suspend
19346 Set suspend trace mode.
19347
19348 @end table
19349
19350 @node PowerPC Embedded
19351 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
19352
19353 @cindex DVC register
19354 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
19355 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
19356
19357 @smallexample
19358 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
19359 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
19360 @end smallexample
19361
19362 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
19363 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
19364 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
19365 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
19366 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
19367 or newer.
19368
19369 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
19370 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
19371 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
19372 watching variables of scalar types.
19373
19374 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
19375 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
19376
19377 @smallexample
19378 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
19379 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
19380 @end smallexample
19381
19382 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
19383 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
19384
19385 @cindex ranged breakpoint
19386 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
19387 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
19388 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
19389 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
19390 use the @code{break-range} command.
19391
19392 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
19393
19394 @table @code
19395 @kindex break-range
19396 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
19397 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
19398 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
19399 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
19400 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
19401 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
19402 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
19403 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
19404 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
19405
19406 @kindex set powerpc
19407 @item set powerpc soft-float
19408 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
19409 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
19410 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
19411 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
19412
19413 @item set powerpc vector-abi
19414 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
19415 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
19416 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
19417 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
19418 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
19419 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
19420 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
19421
19422 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
19423 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
19424 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
19425 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
19426 address of its first byte.
19427
19428 @kindex target dink32
19429 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
19430 DINK32 ROM monitor.
19431
19432 @kindex target ppcbug
19433 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
19434 @kindex target ppcbug1
19435 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
19436 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
19437
19438 @kindex target sds
19439 @item target sds @var{dev}
19440 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
19441 @end table
19442
19443 @cindex SDS protocol
19444 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
19445 by @value{GDBN}:
19446
19447 @table @code
19448 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
19449 @kindex set sdstimeout
19450 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
19451 default is 2 seconds.
19452
19453 @item show sdstimeout
19454 @kindex show sdstimeout
19455 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
19456
19457 @item sds @var{command}
19458 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
19459 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
19460 @end table
19461
19462
19463 @node PA
19464 @subsection HP PA Embedded
19465
19466 @table @code
19467
19468 @kindex target op50n
19469 @item target op50n @var{dev}
19470 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
19471
19472 @kindex target w89k
19473 @item target w89k @var{dev}
19474 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
19475
19476 @end table
19477
19478 @node Sparclet
19479 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
19480
19481 @cindex Sparclet
19482
19483 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
19484 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
19485 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19486 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
19487 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
19488
19489 @table @code
19490 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
19491 @kindex remotetimeout
19492 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
19493 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19494 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
19495 @end table
19496
19497 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
19498 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
19499 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
19500 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
19501 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
19502
19503 @smallexample
19504 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
19505 @end smallexample
19506
19507 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
19508
19509 @smallexample
19510 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
19511 @end smallexample
19512
19513 @cindex running, on Sparclet
19514 Once you have set
19515 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
19516 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
19517 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
19518
19519 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
19520
19521 @smallexample
19522 (gdbslet)
19523 @end smallexample
19524
19525 @menu
19526 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
19527 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
19528 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
19529 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
19530 @end menu
19531
19532 @node Sparclet File
19533 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
19534
19535 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
19536
19537 @smallexample
19538 (gdbslet) file prog
19539 @end smallexample
19540
19541 @need 1000
19542 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
19543 @value{GDBN} locates
19544 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
19545 path.
19546 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
19547 files will be searched as well.
19548 @value{GDBN} locates
19549 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
19550 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
19551 If it fails
19552 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
19553
19554 @smallexample
19555 prog: No such file or directory.
19556 @end smallexample
19557
19558 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
19559 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
19560 @code{target} command again.
19561
19562 @node Sparclet Connection
19563 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
19564
19565 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
19566 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
19567
19568 @smallexample
19569 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
19570 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
19571 main () at ../prog.c:3
19572 @end smallexample
19573
19574 @need 750
19575 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
19576
19577 @smallexample
19578 Connected to ttya.
19579 @end smallexample
19580
19581 @node Sparclet Download
19582 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
19583
19584 @cindex download to Sparclet
19585 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
19586 you can use the @value{GDBN}
19587 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
19588 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
19589 command.
19590 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
19591 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
19592 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
19593 of each of the file's sections.
19594 For instance, if the program
19595 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
19596 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
19597
19598 @smallexample
19599 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
19600 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
19601 @end smallexample
19602
19603 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
19604 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
19605 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
19606
19607 @node Sparclet Execution
19608 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
19609
19610 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
19611 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
19612 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
19613 manual for the list of commands.
19614
19615 @smallexample
19616 (gdbslet) b main
19617 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
19618 (gdbslet) run
19619 Starting program: prog
19620 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
19621 3 char *symarg = 0;
19622 (gdbslet) step
19623 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
19624 (gdbslet)
19625 @end smallexample
19626
19627 @node Sparclite
19628 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
19629
19630 @table @code
19631
19632 @kindex target sparclite
19633 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
19634 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
19635 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
19636 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
19637 remote protocol.
19638
19639 @end table
19640
19641 @node Z8000
19642 @subsection Zilog Z8000
19643
19644 @cindex Z8000
19645 @cindex simulator, Z8000
19646 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
19647
19648 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
19649 a Z8000 simulator.
19650
19651 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
19652 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
19653 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
19654 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
19655
19656 @table @code
19657 @item target sim @var{args}
19658 @kindex sim
19659 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
19660 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
19661 options, specify them via @var{args}.
19662 @end table
19663
19664 @noindent
19665 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
19666 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
19667 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
19668 to run your program, and so on.
19669
19670 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
19671 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
19672 additional items of information as specially named registers:
19673
19674 @table @code
19675
19676 @item cycles
19677 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
19678
19679 @item insts
19680 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
19681
19682 @item time
19683 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
19684
19685 @end table
19686
19687 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
19688 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
19689 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
19690 simulated clock ticks.
19691
19692 @node AVR
19693 @subsection Atmel AVR
19694 @cindex AVR
19695
19696 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
19697 following AVR-specific commands:
19698
19699 @table @code
19700 @item info io_registers
19701 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
19702 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
19703 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
19704 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
19705 @end table
19706
19707 @node CRIS
19708 @subsection CRIS
19709 @cindex CRIS
19710
19711 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
19712 following CRIS-specific commands:
19713
19714 @table @code
19715 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
19716 @cindex CRIS version
19717 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
19718 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
19719 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
19720
19721 @item show cris-version
19722 Show the current CRIS version.
19723
19724 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
19725 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
19726 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
19727 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
19728 @code{R59}.
19729
19730 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
19731 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
19732
19733 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
19734 @cindex CRIS mode
19735 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
19736 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
19737 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
19738
19739 @item show cris-mode
19740 Show the current CRIS mode.
19741 @end table
19742
19743 @node Super-H
19744 @subsection Renesas Super-H
19745 @cindex Super-H
19746
19747 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
19748 commands:
19749
19750 @table @code
19751 @item regs
19752 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
19753 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
19754
19755 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
19756 @kindex set sh calling-convention
19757 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
19758 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
19759 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
19760 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
19761 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
19762 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
19763 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
19764 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
19765 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
19766 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
19767
19768 @item show sh calling-convention
19769 @kindex show sh calling-convention
19770 Show the current calling convention setting.
19771
19772 @end table
19773
19774
19775 @node Architectures
19776 @section Architectures
19777
19778 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
19779 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
19780
19781 @menu
19782 * i386::
19783 * A29K::
19784 * Alpha::
19785 * MIPS::
19786 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
19787 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19788 * PowerPC::
19789 @end menu
19790
19791 @node i386
19792 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
19793
19794 @table @code
19795 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
19796 @kindex set struct-convention
19797 @cindex struct return convention
19798 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
19799 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
19800 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
19801 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
19802 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
19803 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
19804 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
19805 be returned in a register.
19806
19807 @item show struct-convention
19808 @kindex show struct-convention
19809 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
19810 from functions.
19811 @end table
19812
19813 @node A29K
19814 @subsection A29K
19815
19816 @table @code
19817
19818 @kindex set rstack_high_address
19819 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
19820 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
19821 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
19822 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
19823 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
19824 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
19825 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
19826 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
19827 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
19828 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
19829 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
19830 hexadecimal.
19831
19832 @kindex show rstack_high_address
19833 @item show rstack_high_address
19834 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
19835 processors.
19836
19837 @end table
19838
19839 @node Alpha
19840 @subsection Alpha
19841
19842 See the following section.
19843
19844 @node MIPS
19845 @subsection MIPS
19846
19847 @cindex stack on Alpha
19848 @cindex stack on MIPS
19849 @cindex Alpha stack
19850 @cindex MIPS stack
19851 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
19852 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
19853 find the beginning of a function.
19854
19855 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
19856 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
19857 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
19858 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
19859 commands:
19860
19861 @table @code
19862 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
19863 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
19864 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
19865 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
19866 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
19867 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
19868 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
19869 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
19870
19871 @item show heuristic-fence-post
19872 Display the current limit.
19873 @end table
19874
19875 @noindent
19876 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
19877 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
19878
19879 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
19880 programs:
19881
19882 @table @code
19883 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
19884 @kindex set mips abi
19885 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
19886 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
19887 values of @var{arg} are:
19888
19889 @table @samp
19890 @item auto
19891 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
19892 default).
19893 @item o32
19894 @item o64
19895 @item n32
19896 @item n64
19897 @item eabi32
19898 @item eabi64
19899 @end table
19900
19901 @item show mips abi
19902 @kindex show mips abi
19903 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
19904
19905 @item set mipsfpu
19906 @itemx show mipsfpu
19907 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
19908
19909 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
19910 @kindex set mips mask-address
19911 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
19912 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
19913 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
19914 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
19915 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
19916
19917 @item show mips mask-address
19918 @kindex show mips mask-address
19919 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
19920 not.
19921
19922 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19923 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19924 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
19925 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
19926 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
19927 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
19928
19929 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19930 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19931 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
19932
19933 @item set debug mips
19934 @kindex set debug mips
19935 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
19936 target code in @value{GDBN}.
19937
19938 @item show debug mips
19939 @kindex show debug mips
19940 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
19941 @end table
19942
19943
19944 @node HPPA
19945 @subsection HPPA
19946 @cindex HPPA support
19947
19948 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
19949 following special commands:
19950
19951 @table @code
19952 @item set debug hppa
19953 @kindex set debug hppa
19954 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
19955 messages are to be displayed.
19956
19957 @item show debug hppa
19958 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
19959
19960 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
19961 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
19962 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
19963 given @var{address}.
19964
19965 @end table
19966
19967
19968 @node SPU
19969 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19970 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
19971 @cindex SPU
19972
19973 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
19974 it provides the following special commands:
19975
19976 @table @code
19977 @item info spu event
19978 @kindex info spu
19979 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
19980 and pending event status.
19981
19982 @item info spu signal
19983 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
19984 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
19985 notification channels.
19986
19987 @item info spu mailbox
19988 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
19989 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
19990 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
19991
19992 @item info spu dma
19993 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
19994 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
19995 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
19996
19997 @item info spu proxydma
19998 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
19999 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20000 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20001
20002 @end table
20003
20004 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
20005 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
20006 special commands:
20007
20008 @table @code
20009 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
20010 @kindex set spu
20011 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
20012 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
20013 function. The default is @code{off}.
20014
20015 @item show spu stop-on-load
20016 @kindex show spu
20017 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
20018
20019 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
20020 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
20021 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
20022 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
20023 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
20024 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
20025
20026 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
20027 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
20028
20029 @end table
20030
20031 @node PowerPC
20032 @subsection PowerPC
20033 @cindex PowerPC architecture
20034
20035 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
20036 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
20037 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
20038 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
20039 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
20040
20041 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
20042 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
20043 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
20044
20045 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
20046 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
20047
20048
20049 @node Controlling GDB
20050 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
20051
20052 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
20053 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
20054 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
20055 described here.
20056
20057 @menu
20058 * Prompt:: Prompt
20059 * Editing:: Command editing
20060 * Command History:: Command history
20061 * Screen Size:: Screen size
20062 * Numbers:: Numbers
20063 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
20064 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
20065 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
20066 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
20067 @end menu
20068
20069 @node Prompt
20070 @section Prompt
20071
20072 @cindex prompt
20073
20074 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
20075 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
20076 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
20077 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
20078 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
20079 which one you are talking to.
20080
20081 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
20082 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
20083 or a prompt that does not.
20084
20085 @table @code
20086 @kindex set prompt
20087 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
20088 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
20089
20090 @kindex show prompt
20091 @item show prompt
20092 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
20093 @end table
20094
20095 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
20096 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
20097 are:
20098
20099 @table @code
20100 @kindex set extended-prompt
20101 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
20102 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
20103 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
20104 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
20105 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
20106 is displayed.
20107
20108 For example:
20109
20110 @smallexample
20111 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
20112 @end smallexample
20113
20114 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
20115 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
20116
20117 @kindex show extended-prompt
20118 @item show extended-prompt
20119 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
20120 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
20121 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
20122 @end table
20123
20124 @node Editing
20125 @section Command Editing
20126 @cindex readline
20127 @cindex command line editing
20128
20129 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
20130 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
20131 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
20132 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
20133 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
20134 debugging sessions.
20135
20136 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
20137 command @code{set}.
20138
20139 @table @code
20140 @kindex set editing
20141 @cindex editing
20142 @item set editing
20143 @itemx set editing on
20144 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
20145
20146 @item set editing off
20147 Disable command line editing.
20148
20149 @kindex show editing
20150 @item show editing
20151 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
20152 @end table
20153
20154 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20155 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
20156 @end ifset
20157 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20158 @xref{Command Line Editing},
20159 @end ifclear
20160 for more details about the Readline
20161 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
20162 encouraged to read that chapter.
20163
20164 @node Command History
20165 @section Command History
20166 @cindex command history
20167
20168 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
20169 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
20170 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
20171 history facility.
20172
20173 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
20174 package, to provide the history facility.
20175 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20176 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
20177 @end ifset
20178 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20179 @xref{Using History Interactively},
20180 @end ifclear
20181 for the detailed description of the History library.
20182
20183 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
20184 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
20185 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
20186 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
20187 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
20188 pressed on a line by itself.
20189
20190 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
20191 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
20192 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
20193 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
20194
20195 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
20196 history.
20197
20198 @table @code
20199 @cindex history substitution
20200 @cindex history file
20201 @kindex set history filename
20202 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
20203 @item set history filename @var{fname}
20204 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
20205 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
20206 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
20207 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
20208 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
20209 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
20210 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
20211 is not set.
20212
20213 @cindex save command history
20214 @kindex set history save
20215 @item set history save
20216 @itemx set history save on
20217 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
20218 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
20219
20220 @item set history save off
20221 Stop recording command history in a file.
20222
20223 @cindex history size
20224 @kindex set history size
20225 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
20226 @item set history size @var{size}
20227 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
20228 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
20229 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
20230 @end table
20231
20232 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
20233 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20234 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
20235 @end ifset
20236 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20237 @xref{Event Designators},
20238 @end ifclear
20239 for more details.
20240
20241 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
20242 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
20243 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
20244 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
20245 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
20246 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
20247 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
20248 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
20249
20250 The commands to control history expansion are:
20251
20252 @table @code
20253 @item set history expansion on
20254 @itemx set history expansion
20255 @kindex set history expansion
20256 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
20257
20258 @item set history expansion off
20259 Disable history expansion.
20260
20261 @c @group
20262 @kindex show history
20263 @item show history
20264 @itemx show history filename
20265 @itemx show history save
20266 @itemx show history size
20267 @itemx show history expansion
20268 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
20269 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
20270 @c @end group
20271 @end table
20272
20273 @table @code
20274 @kindex show commands
20275 @cindex show last commands
20276 @cindex display command history
20277 @item show commands
20278 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
20279
20280 @item show commands @var{n}
20281 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
20282
20283 @item show commands +
20284 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
20285 @end table
20286
20287 @node Screen Size
20288 @section Screen Size
20289 @cindex size of screen
20290 @cindex pauses in output
20291
20292 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
20293 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
20294 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
20295 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
20296 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
20297 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
20298 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
20299 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
20300
20301 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
20302 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
20303 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
20304 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
20305 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
20306 width} commands:
20307
20308 @table @code
20309 @kindex set height
20310 @kindex set width
20311 @kindex show width
20312 @kindex show height
20313 @item set height @var{lpp}
20314 @itemx show height
20315 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
20316 @itemx show width
20317 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
20318 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
20319 commands display the current settings.
20320
20321 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
20322 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
20323 file or to an editor buffer.
20324
20325 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
20326 from wrapping its output.
20327
20328 @item set pagination on
20329 @itemx set pagination off
20330 @kindex set pagination
20331 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
20332 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
20333 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
20334 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
20335
20336 @item show pagination
20337 @kindex show pagination
20338 Show the current pagination mode.
20339 @end table
20340
20341 @node Numbers
20342 @section Numbers
20343 @cindex number representation
20344 @cindex entering numbers
20345
20346 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
20347 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
20348 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
20349 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
20350 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
20351 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
20352 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
20353 both input and output with the commands described below.
20354
20355 @table @code
20356 @kindex set input-radix
20357 @item set input-radix @var{base}
20358 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
20359 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
20360 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
20361 example, any of
20362
20363 @smallexample
20364 set input-radix 012
20365 set input-radix 10.
20366 set input-radix 0xa
20367 @end smallexample
20368
20369 @noindent
20370 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
20371 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
20372 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
20373 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
20374 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
20375 change the radix.
20376
20377 @kindex set output-radix
20378 @item set output-radix @var{base}
20379 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
20380 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
20381 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
20382
20383 @kindex show input-radix
20384 @item show input-radix
20385 Display the current default base for numeric input.
20386
20387 @kindex show output-radix
20388 @item show output-radix
20389 Display the current default base for numeric display.
20390
20391 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
20392 @itemx show radix
20393 @kindex set radix
20394 @kindex show radix
20395 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
20396 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
20397 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
20398 default value of 10.
20399
20400 @end table
20401
20402 @node ABI
20403 @section Configuring the Current ABI
20404
20405 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
20406 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
20407 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
20408 current ABI.
20409
20410 @cindex OS ABI
20411 @kindex set osabi
20412 @kindex show osabi
20413
20414 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
20415 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
20416 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
20417 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
20418 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
20419 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
20420 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
20421 platform provides.
20422
20423 @table @code
20424 @item show osabi
20425 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
20426
20427 @item set osabi
20428 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
20429
20430 @item set osabi @var{abi}
20431 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
20432 @end table
20433
20434 @cindex float promotion
20435
20436 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
20437 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
20438 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
20439 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
20440 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
20441 @code{double} and then passed.
20442
20443 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
20444 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
20445 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
20446
20447 @table @code
20448 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
20449 @item set coerce-float-to-double
20450 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
20451 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
20452 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
20453
20454 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
20455 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
20456 functions.
20457
20458 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
20459 @item show coerce-float-to-double
20460 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
20461 @end table
20462
20463 @kindex set cp-abi
20464 @kindex show cp-abi
20465 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
20466 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
20467 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
20468 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
20469 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
20470 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
20471 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
20472 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
20473 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
20474 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
20475 ``auto''.
20476
20477 @table @code
20478 @item show cp-abi
20479 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
20480
20481 @item set cp-abi
20482 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
20483
20484 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
20485 @itemx set cp-abi auto
20486 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
20487 @end table
20488
20489 @node Messages/Warnings
20490 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
20491
20492 @cindex verbose operation
20493 @cindex optional warnings
20494 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
20495 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
20496 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
20497 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
20498
20499 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
20500 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
20501 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
20502
20503 @table @code
20504 @kindex set verbose
20505 @item set verbose on
20506 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
20507
20508 @item set verbose off
20509 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
20510
20511 @kindex show verbose
20512 @item show verbose
20513 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
20514 @end table
20515
20516 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
20517 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
20518 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
20519 Symbol Files}).
20520
20521 @table @code
20522
20523 @kindex set complaints
20524 @item set complaints @var{limit}
20525 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
20526 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
20527 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
20528 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
20529
20530 @kindex show complaints
20531 @item show complaints
20532 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
20533
20534 @end table
20535
20536 @anchor{confirmation requests}
20537 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
20538 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
20539 you try to run a program which is already running:
20540
20541 @smallexample
20542 (@value{GDBP}) run
20543 The program being debugged has been started already.
20544 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
20545 @end smallexample
20546
20547 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
20548 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
20549
20550 @table @code
20551
20552 @kindex set confirm
20553 @cindex flinching
20554 @cindex confirmation
20555 @cindex stupid questions
20556 @item set confirm off
20557 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
20558 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
20559 automatically disables confirmation requests.
20560
20561 @item set confirm on
20562 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
20563
20564 @kindex show confirm
20565 @item show confirm
20566 Displays state of confirmation requests.
20567
20568 @end table
20569
20570 @cindex command tracing
20571 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
20572 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
20573 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
20574 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
20575
20576 @table @code
20577 @kindex set trace-commands
20578 @cindex command scripts, debugging
20579 @item set trace-commands on
20580 Enable command tracing.
20581 @item set trace-commands off
20582 Disable command tracing.
20583 @item show trace-commands
20584 Display the current state of command tracing.
20585 @end table
20586
20587 @node Debugging Output
20588 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
20589 @cindex optional debugging messages
20590
20591 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
20592 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
20593 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
20594 section documents those commands.
20595
20596 @table @code
20597 @kindex set exec-done-display
20598 @item set exec-done-display
20599 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
20600 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
20601 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
20602 @kindex show exec-done-display
20603 @item show exec-done-display
20604 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
20605 notification.
20606 @kindex set debug
20607 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
20608 @cindex architecture debugging info
20609 @item set debug arch
20610 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
20611 @kindex show debug
20612 @item show debug arch
20613 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
20614 @item set debug aix-thread
20615 @cindex AIX threads
20616 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
20617 module.
20618 @item show debug aix-thread
20619 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
20620 @item set debug check-physname
20621 @cindex physname
20622 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
20623 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
20624 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
20625 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
20626 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
20627 both ways and display any discrepancies.
20628 @item show debug check-physname
20629 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
20630 @item set debug dwarf2-die
20631 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
20632 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
20633 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
20634 A value of zero turns off the display.
20635 @item show debug dwarf2-die
20636 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
20637 @item set debug displaced
20638 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
20639 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
20640 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
20641 @item show debug displaced
20642 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
20643 related to displaced stepping.
20644 @item set debug event
20645 @cindex event debugging info
20646 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
20647 default is off.
20648 @item show debug event
20649 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
20650 info.
20651 @item set debug expression
20652 @cindex expression debugging info
20653 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
20654 expression parsing. The default is off.
20655 @item show debug expression
20656 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
20657 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
20658 @item set debug frame
20659 @cindex frame debugging info
20660 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
20661 default is off.
20662 @item show debug frame
20663 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
20664 info.
20665 @item set debug gnu-nat
20666 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
20667 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
20668 @item show debug gnu-nat
20669 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
20670 @item set debug infrun
20671 @cindex inferior debugging info
20672 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
20673 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
20674 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
20675 @item show debug infrun
20676 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
20677 @item set debug jit
20678 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
20679 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
20680 @item show debug jit
20681 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
20682 @item set debug lin-lwp
20683 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
20684 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
20685 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
20686 @item show debug lin-lwp
20687 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
20688 @item set debug observer
20689 @cindex observer debugging info
20690 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
20691 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
20692 @item show debug observer
20693 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
20694 @item set debug overload
20695 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
20696 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
20697 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
20698 is off.
20699 @item show debug overload
20700 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
20701 debugging info.
20702 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
20703 @cindex debug expression parser
20704 @item set debug parser
20705 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
20706 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
20707 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
20708 details. The default is off.
20709 @item show debug parser
20710 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
20711 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
20712 @cindex serial connections, debugging
20713 @cindex debug remote protocol
20714 @cindex remote protocol debugging
20715 @cindex display remote packets
20716 @item set debug remote
20717 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
20718 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
20719 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
20720 @item show debug remote
20721 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
20722 @item set debug serial
20723 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
20724 default is off.
20725 @item show debug serial
20726 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
20727 info.
20728 @item set debug solib-frv
20729 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
20730 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
20731 @item show debug solib-frv
20732 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
20733 messages.
20734 @item set debug target
20735 @cindex target debugging info
20736 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
20737 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
20738 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
20739 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
20740 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
20741 @item show debug target
20742 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
20743 info.
20744 @item set debug timestamp
20745 @cindex timestampping debugging info
20746 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
20747 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
20748 message.
20749 @item show debug timestamp
20750 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
20751 debugging info.
20752 @item set debugvarobj
20753 @cindex variable object debugging info
20754 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
20755 info. The default is off.
20756 @item show debugvarobj
20757 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
20758 debugging info.
20759 @item set debug xml
20760 @cindex XML parser debugging
20761 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
20762 @item show debug xml
20763 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
20764 @end table
20765
20766 @node Other Misc Settings
20767 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
20768 @cindex miscellaneous settings
20769
20770 @table @code
20771 @kindex set interactive-mode
20772 @item set interactive-mode
20773 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
20774 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
20775 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
20776 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
20777 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
20778 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
20779 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
20780 is, non-interactively otherwise.
20781
20782 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
20783 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
20784 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
20785 inside a cygwin window.
20786
20787 @kindex show interactive-mode
20788 @item show interactive-mode
20789 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
20790 @end table
20791
20792 @node Extending GDB
20793 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
20794 @cindex extending GDB
20795
20796 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
20797 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
20798 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
20799 existing commands.
20800
20801 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
20802 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
20803 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
20804 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
20805 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20806 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
20807
20808 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
20809 setting:
20810
20811 @table @code
20812 @kindex set script-extension
20813 @kindex show script-extension
20814 @item set script-extension off
20815 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20816
20817 @item set script-extension soft
20818 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20819 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
20820 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
20821 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
20822
20823 @item set script-extension strict
20824 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20825 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
20826 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
20827
20828 @item show script-extension
20829 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
20830
20831 @end table
20832
20833 @menu
20834 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
20835 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20836 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
20837 @end menu
20838
20839 @node Sequences
20840 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
20841
20842 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
20843 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
20844 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
20845 files.
20846
20847 @menu
20848 * Define:: How to define your own commands
20849 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
20850 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
20851 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
20852 @end menu
20853
20854 @node Define
20855 @subsection User-defined Commands
20856
20857 @cindex user-defined command
20858 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
20859 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
20860 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
20861 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
20862 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
20863 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
20864
20865 @smallexample
20866 define adder
20867 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
20868 end
20869 @end smallexample
20870
20871 @noindent
20872 To execute the command use:
20873
20874 @smallexample
20875 adder 1 2 3
20876 @end smallexample
20877
20878 @noindent
20879 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
20880 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
20881 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
20882 functions calls.
20883
20884 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
20885 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
20886 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
20887 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
20888
20889 @smallexample
20890 define adder
20891 if $argc == 2
20892 print $arg0 + $arg1
20893 end
20894 if $argc == 3
20895 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
20896 end
20897 end
20898 @end smallexample
20899
20900 @table @code
20901
20902 @kindex define
20903 @item define @var{commandname}
20904 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
20905 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
20906 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
20907 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
20908 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
20909 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
20910
20911 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
20912 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
20913 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
20914
20915 @kindex document
20916 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
20917 @item document @var{commandname}
20918 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
20919 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
20920 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
20921 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
20922 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
20923 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
20924
20925 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
20926 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
20927 does not change the documentation.
20928
20929 @kindex dont-repeat
20930 @cindex don't repeat command
20931 @item dont-repeat
20932 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
20933 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
20934 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
20935
20936 @kindex help user-defined
20937 @item help user-defined
20938 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
20939 (if any) for each.
20940
20941 @kindex show user
20942 @item show user
20943 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
20944 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
20945 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
20946 definitions for all user-defined commands.
20947
20948 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
20949 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
20950 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
20951 @item show max-user-call-depth
20952 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
20953 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
20954 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
20955 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
20956 @end table
20957
20958 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
20959 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
20960
20961 When user-defined commands are executed, the
20962 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
20963 stops execution of the user-defined command.
20964
20965 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
20966 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
20967 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
20968 messages when used in a user-defined command.
20969
20970 @node Hooks
20971 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
20972 @cindex command hooks
20973 @cindex hooks, for commands
20974 @cindex hooks, pre-command
20975
20976 @kindex hook
20977 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
20978 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
20979 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
20980 before that command.
20981
20982 @cindex hooks, post-command
20983 @kindex hookpost
20984 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
20985 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
20986 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
20987 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
20988 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
20989
20990 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
20991 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
20992
20993 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
20994 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
20995
20996 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
20997 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
20998 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
20999 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
21000 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
21001
21002 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
21003 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
21004 you could define:
21005
21006 @smallexample
21007 define hook-stop
21008 handle SIGALRM nopass
21009 end
21010
21011 define hook-run
21012 handle SIGALRM pass
21013 end
21014
21015 define hook-continue
21016 handle SIGALRM pass
21017 end
21018 @end smallexample
21019
21020 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
21021 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
21022 you could define:
21023
21024 @smallexample
21025 define hook-echo
21026 echo <<<---
21027 end
21028
21029 define hookpost-echo
21030 echo --->>>\n
21031 end
21032
21033 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
21034 <<<---Hello World--->>>
21035 (@value{GDBP})
21036
21037 @end smallexample
21038
21039 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
21040 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
21041 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
21042 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
21043 @c or not?
21044 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
21045 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
21046 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
21047
21048 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
21049 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
21050 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
21051
21052 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
21053 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
21054
21055 @node Command Files
21056 @subsection Command Files
21057
21058 @cindex command files
21059 @cindex scripting commands
21060 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
21061 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
21062 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
21063 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
21064 terminal.
21065
21066 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
21067 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
21068 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
21069 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
21070 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
21071
21072 @table @code
21073 @kindex source
21074 @cindex execute commands from a file
21075 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
21076 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
21077 @end table
21078
21079 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
21080 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
21081 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
21082 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
21083 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
21084
21085 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
21086 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
21087 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
21088 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
21089 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
21090 is not relevant to scripts.
21091
21092 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
21093 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
21094 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
21095 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
21096 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
21097 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
21098 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
21099 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
21100 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
21101 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
21102 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
21103 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
21104 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
21105 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
21106
21107 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
21108 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
21109 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
21110
21111 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
21112 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
21113 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
21114 when called from command files.
21115
21116 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
21117 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
21118 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
21119 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
21120 the next command.
21121
21122 @smallexample
21123 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
21124 @end smallexample
21125
21126 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
21127 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
21128 would be directed to @file{log}.
21129
21130 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
21131 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
21132 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
21133 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
21134 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
21135 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
21136 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
21137 conditionally, etc.
21138
21139 @table @code
21140 @kindex if
21141 @kindex else
21142 @item if
21143 @itemx else
21144 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
21145 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
21146 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
21147 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
21148 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
21149 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
21150 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
21151
21152 @kindex while
21153 @item while
21154 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
21155 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
21156 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
21157 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
21158 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
21159 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
21160
21161 @kindex loop_break
21162 @item loop_break
21163 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
21164 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
21165 line.
21166
21167 @kindex loop_continue
21168 @item loop_continue
21169 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
21170 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
21171 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
21172 the controlling expression.
21173
21174 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
21175 @item end
21176 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
21177 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
21178 @end table
21179
21180
21181 @node Output
21182 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
21183
21184 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
21185 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
21186 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
21187 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
21188 want.
21189
21190 @table @code
21191 @kindex echo
21192 @item echo @var{text}
21193 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
21194 @c because it is not in ANSI.
21195 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
21196 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
21197 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
21198 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
21199 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
21200 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
21201 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
21202 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
21203 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
21204
21205 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
21206 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
21207
21208 @smallexample
21209 echo This is some text\n\
21210 which is continued\n\
21211 onto several lines.\n
21212 @end smallexample
21213
21214 produces the same output as
21215
21216 @smallexample
21217 echo This is some text\n
21218 echo which is continued\n
21219 echo onto several lines.\n
21220 @end smallexample
21221
21222 @kindex output
21223 @item output @var{expression}
21224 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
21225 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
21226 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
21227 on expressions.
21228
21229 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
21230 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
21231 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
21232 Formats}, for more information.
21233
21234 @kindex printf
21235 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
21236 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
21237 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
21238 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
21239 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
21240 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
21241 executing the code below:
21242
21243 @smallexample
21244 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
21245 @end smallexample
21246
21247 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
21248 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
21249 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
21250 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
21251 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
21252 printed.
21253
21254 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
21255
21256 @smallexample
21257 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
21258 @end smallexample
21259
21260 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
21261 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
21262 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
21263
21264 @itemize @bullet
21265 @item
21266 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
21267
21268 @item
21269 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
21270 width.
21271
21272 @item
21273 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
21274 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
21275
21276 @item
21277 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
21278 supported.
21279
21280 @item
21281 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
21282
21283 @item
21284 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
21285 @end itemize
21286
21287 @noindent
21288 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
21289 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
21290 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
21291 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
21292
21293 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
21294 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
21295 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
21296 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
21297 supported.
21298
21299 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
21300 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
21301 together with a floating point specifier.
21302 letters:
21303
21304 @itemize @bullet
21305 @item
21306 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
21307
21308 @item
21309 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
21310
21311 @item
21312 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
21313 @end itemize
21314
21315 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
21316 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
21317 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
21318
21319 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
21320 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
21321
21322 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
21323 @smallexample
21324 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
21325 @end smallexample
21326
21327 @kindex eval
21328 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
21329 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
21330 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
21331
21332 @end table
21333
21334 @node Python
21335 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
21336 @cindex python scripting
21337 @cindex scripting with python
21338
21339 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
21340 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
21341 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
21342
21343 @cindex python directory
21344 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
21345 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
21346 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
21347 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
21348 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
21349 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
21350
21351 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
21352 are written in Python and are located in the
21353 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
21354 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
21355 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
21356
21357 @menu
21358 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
21359 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
21360 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
21361 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
21362 @end menu
21363
21364 @node Python Commands
21365 @subsection Python Commands
21366 @cindex python commands
21367 @cindex commands to access python
21368
21369 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
21370 and one related setting:
21371
21372 @table @code
21373 @kindex python
21374 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
21375 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
21376
21377 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
21378 argument as a Python command. For example:
21379
21380 @smallexample
21381 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
21382 23
21383 @end smallexample
21384
21385 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
21386 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
21387 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
21388 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
21389 containing @code{end}. For example:
21390
21391 @smallexample
21392 (@value{GDBP}) python
21393 Type python script
21394 End with a line saying just "end".
21395 >print 23
21396 >end
21397 23
21398 @end smallexample
21399
21400 @kindex maint set python print-stack
21401 @item maint set python print-stack
21402 This command is now deprecated. Instead use @code{set python
21403 print-stack}
21404
21405 @kindex set python print-stack
21406 @item set python print-stack
21407 By default, @value{GDBN} will not print a stack trace when an error
21408 occurs in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{set
21409 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, then Python stack printing is
21410 enabled; if @code{off}, the default, then Python stack printing is
21411 disabled.
21412 @end table
21413
21414 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
21415 interpreter:
21416
21417 @table @code
21418 @item source @file{script-name}
21419 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
21420 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
21421 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
21422
21423 @item python execfile ("script-name")
21424 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
21425 and thus is always available.
21426 @end table
21427
21428 @node Python API
21429 @subsection Python API
21430 @cindex python api
21431 @cindex programming in python
21432
21433 @cindex python stdout
21434 @cindex python pagination
21435 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
21436 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
21437 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
21438 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
21439 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
21440
21441 @menu
21442 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
21443 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
21444 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
21445 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
21446 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
21447 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
21448 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
21449 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
21450 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
21451 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
21452 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
21453 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
21454 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
21455 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
21456 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
21457 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
21458 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
21459 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
21460 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
21461 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
21462 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
21463 @end menu
21464
21465 @node Basic Python
21466 @subsubsection Basic Python
21467
21468 @cindex python functions
21469 @cindex python module
21470 @cindex gdb module
21471 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
21472 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
21473 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
21474 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
21475
21476 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
21477 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
21478 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
21479 @end defvar
21480
21481 @findex gdb.execute
21482 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
21483 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
21484 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
21485 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
21486
21487 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
21488 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
21489 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
21490
21491 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
21492 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
21493 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
21494 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
21495 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
21496 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
21497 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
21498 @end defun
21499
21500 @findex gdb.breakpoints
21501 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
21502 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
21503 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
21504 @end defun
21505
21506 @findex gdb.parameter
21507 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
21508 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
21509 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
21510 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
21511 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
21512
21513 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
21514 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
21515 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
21516 type, and returned.
21517 @end defun
21518
21519 @findex gdb.history
21520 @defun gdb.history (number)
21521 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
21522 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
21523 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
21524 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
21525 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
21526 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
21527 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
21528 raised.
21529
21530 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
21531 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
21532 @end defun
21533
21534 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
21535 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
21536 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
21537 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
21538 @var{expression} must be a string.
21539
21540 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
21541 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
21542 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
21543 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
21544 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
21545 @end defun
21546
21547 @findex gdb.post_event
21548 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
21549 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
21550 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
21551 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
21552 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
21553 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
21554 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
21555
21556 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
21557 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
21558 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
21559 this. For example:
21560
21561 @smallexample
21562 (@value{GDBP}) python
21563 >import threading
21564 >
21565 >class Writer():
21566 > def __init__(self, message):
21567 > self.message = message;
21568 > def __call__(self):
21569 > gdb.write(self.message)
21570 >
21571 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
21572 > def run (self):
21573 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
21574 >
21575 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
21576 > def run (self):
21577 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
21578 >
21579 >MyThread1().start()
21580 >MyThread2().start()
21581 >end
21582 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
21583 @end smallexample
21584 @end defun
21585
21586 @findex gdb.write
21587 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
21588 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
21589 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
21590 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
21591 values are:
21592
21593 @table @code
21594 @findex STDOUT
21595 @findex gdb.STDOUT
21596 @item gdb.STDOUT
21597 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
21598
21599 @findex STDERR
21600 @findex gdb.STDERR
21601 @item gdb.STDERR
21602 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
21603
21604 @findex STDLOG
21605 @findex gdb.STDLOG
21606 @item gdb.STDLOG
21607 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
21608 @end table
21609
21610 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
21611 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
21612 relevant stream.
21613 @end defun
21614
21615 @findex gdb.flush
21616 @defun gdb.flush ()
21617 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
21618 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
21619 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
21620 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
21621 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
21622 stream values are:
21623
21624 @table @code
21625 @findex STDOUT
21626 @findex gdb.STDOUT
21627 @item gdb.STDOUT
21628 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
21629
21630 @findex STDERR
21631 @findex gdb.STDERR
21632 @item gdb.STDERR
21633 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
21634
21635 @findex STDLOG
21636 @findex gdb.STDLOG
21637 @item gdb.STDLOG
21638 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
21639
21640 @end table
21641
21642 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
21643 call this function for the relevant stream.
21644 @end defun
21645
21646 @findex gdb.target_charset
21647 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
21648 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
21649 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
21650 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
21651 @end defun
21652
21653 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
21654 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
21655 Return the name of the current target wide character set
21656 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
21657 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
21658 never returned.
21659 @end defun
21660
21661 @findex gdb.solib_name
21662 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
21663 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
21664 as a string, or @code{None}.
21665 @end defun
21666
21667 @findex gdb.decode_line
21668 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
21669 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
21670 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
21671 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
21672 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
21673 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
21674 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
21675 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
21676 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
21677 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
21678 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
21679 @end defun
21680
21681 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
21682 @anchor{prompt_hook}
21683
21684 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
21685 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
21686 @value{GDBN}.
21687
21688 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
21689 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
21690 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
21691 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
21692 the current prompt.
21693
21694 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
21695 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
21696 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
21697 @end defun
21698
21699 @node Exception Handling
21700 @subsubsection Exception Handling
21701 @cindex python exceptions
21702 @cindex exceptions, python
21703
21704 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
21705 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
21706 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
21707 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
21708 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
21709 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
21710 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
21711
21712 @smallexample
21713 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
21714 Traceback (most recent call last):
21715 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
21716 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
21717 @end smallexample
21718
21719 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
21720 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
21721 Python exception depends on the error.
21722
21723 @ftable @code
21724 @item gdb.error
21725 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
21726 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
21727 versions of @value{GDBN}.
21728
21729 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
21730 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
21731
21732 @item gdb.MemoryError
21733 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
21734 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
21735
21736 @item KeyboardInterrupt
21737 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
21738 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
21739 @end ftable
21740
21741 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
21742 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
21743 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
21744 traceback.
21745
21746 @findex gdb.GdbError
21747 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
21748 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
21749 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
21750 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
21751 to handle this case. Example:
21752
21753 @smallexample
21754 (gdb) python
21755 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
21756 > """Greet the whole world."""
21757 > def __init__ (self):
21758 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
21759 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
21760 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
21761 > if len (argv) != 0:
21762 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
21763 > print "Hello, World!"
21764 >HelloWorld ()
21765 >end
21766 (gdb) hello-world 42
21767 hello-world takes no arguments
21768 @end smallexample
21769
21770 @node Values From Inferior
21771 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
21772 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
21773 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
21774
21775 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
21776 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
21777 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
21778 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
21779 fetching values when necessary.
21780
21781 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
21782 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
21783 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
21784
21785 @smallexample
21786 bar = some_val + 2
21787 @end smallexample
21788
21789 @noindent
21790 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
21791 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
21792
21793 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
21794 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
21795 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
21796 can access its @code{foo} element with:
21797
21798 @smallexample
21799 bar = some_val['foo']
21800 @end smallexample
21801
21802 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
21803
21804 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
21805 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
21806 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
21807 by that prototype.
21808
21809 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
21810 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
21811 execute this function, call it like so:
21812
21813 @smallexample
21814 result = some_val (10,20)
21815 @end smallexample
21816
21817 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
21818 @code{gdb.Value}.
21819
21820 The following attributes are provided:
21821
21822 @table @code
21823 @defvar Value.address
21824 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
21825 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
21826 this attribute holds @code{None}.
21827 @end defvar
21828
21829 @cindex optimized out value in Python
21830 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
21831 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
21832 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
21833 @end defvar
21834
21835 @defvar Value.type
21836 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
21837 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
21838 @end defvar
21839
21840 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
21841 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
21842 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
21843 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
21844 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
21845 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
21846 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
21847 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
21848 type.
21849
21850 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
21851 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
21852 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
21853 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
21854 @end defvar
21855
21856 @defvar Value.is_lazy
21857 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
21858 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
21859 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
21860 For example:
21861
21862 @smallexample
21863 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
21864 @end smallexample
21865
21866 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
21867 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
21868 method is invoked.
21869 @end defvar
21870 @end table
21871
21872 The following methods are provided:
21873
21874 @table @code
21875 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
21876 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
21877 this object initializer. Specifically:
21878
21879 @table @asis
21880 @item Python boolean
21881 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
21882 language.
21883
21884 @item Python integer
21885 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
21886 current architecture.
21887
21888 @item Python long
21889 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
21890 current architecture.
21891
21892 @item Python float
21893 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
21894 current architecture.
21895
21896 @item Python string
21897 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
21898 target encoding.
21899
21900 @item @code{gdb.Value}
21901 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
21902
21903 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
21904 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
21905 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
21906 its result is used.
21907 @end table
21908 @end defun
21909
21910 @defun Value.cast (type)
21911 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
21912 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
21913 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
21914 reason, this method throws an exception.
21915 @end defun
21916
21917 @defun Value.dereference ()
21918 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
21919 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
21920 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
21921
21922 @smallexample
21923 int *foo;
21924 @end smallexample
21925
21926 @noindent
21927 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
21928 @code{foo} points to like this:
21929
21930 @smallexample
21931 bar = foo.dereference ()
21932 @end smallexample
21933
21934 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
21935 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
21936 @end defun
21937
21938 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
21939 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
21940 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
21941 @end defun
21942
21943 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
21944 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
21945 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
21946 @end defun
21947
21948 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
21949 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
21950 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
21951 throw an exception.
21952
21953 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
21954 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
21955 language.
21956
21957 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
21958 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
21959 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
21960 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
21961 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
21962
21963 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
21964 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
21965 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
21966 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
21967 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
21968 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
21969 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
21970 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
21971 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
21972
21973 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
21974 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
21975
21976 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
21977 fetched and converted to the given length.
21978 @end defun
21979
21980 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
21981 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
21982 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
21983 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
21984
21985 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
21986 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
21987 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
21988 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
21989 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
21990
21991 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
21992 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
21993 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
21994 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
21995 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
21996 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
21997
21998 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
21999 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
22000 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
22001 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
22002 @end defun
22003
22004 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
22005 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
22006 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
22007 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
22008 will produce a Python exception.
22009
22010 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
22011 has no effect.
22012
22013 This method does not return a value.
22014 @end defun
22015
22016 @end table
22017
22018 @node Types In Python
22019 @subsubsection Types In Python
22020 @cindex types in Python
22021 @cindex Python, working with types
22022
22023 @tindex gdb.Type
22024 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
22025 @code{gdb.Type}.
22026
22027 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22028 module:
22029
22030 @findex gdb.lookup_type
22031 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
22032 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
22033 type to look up. It must be a string.
22034
22035 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
22036 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
22037
22038 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
22039 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
22040 @end defun
22041
22042 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
22043 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
22044 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
22045 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
22046
22047 @smallexample
22048 bar = some_type['foo']
22049 @end smallexample
22050
22051 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
22052 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
22053 @code{gdb.Field} class.
22054
22055 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
22056
22057 @table @code
22058 @defvar Type.code
22059 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
22060 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
22061 @end defvar
22062
22063 @defvar Type.sizeof
22064 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
22065 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
22066 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
22067 @end defvar
22068
22069 @defvar Type.tag
22070 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
22071 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
22072 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
22073 @code{None} is returned.
22074 @end defvar
22075 @end table
22076
22077 The following methods are provided:
22078
22079 @table @code
22080 @defun Type.fields ()
22081 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
22082 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
22083 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
22084 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
22085 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
22086 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
22087
22088 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
22089 @table @code
22090 @item bitpos
22091 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
22092 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
22093 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
22094 enumeration member's integer representation.
22095
22096 @item name
22097 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
22098
22099 @item artificial
22100 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
22101 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
22102 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
22103
22104 @item is_base_class
22105 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
22106 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
22107 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
22108 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
22109
22110 @item bitsize
22111 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
22112 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
22113 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
22114
22115 @item type
22116 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
22117 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
22118 @end table
22119 @end defun
22120
22121 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
22122 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
22123 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
22124 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
22125 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
22126 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
22127 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
22128 @end defun
22129
22130 @defun Type.const ()
22131 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
22132 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
22133 @end defun
22134
22135 @defun Type.volatile ()
22136 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
22137 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
22138 @end defun
22139
22140 @defun Type.unqualified ()
22141 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
22142 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
22143 @code{volatile}.
22144 @end defun
22145
22146 @defun Type.range ()
22147 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
22148 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
22149 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
22150 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
22151 @end defun
22152
22153 @defun Type.reference ()
22154 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
22155 type.
22156 @end defun
22157
22158 @defun Type.pointer ()
22159 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
22160 type.
22161 @end defun
22162
22163 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
22164 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
22165 after removing all layers of typedefs.
22166 @end defun
22167
22168 @defun Type.target ()
22169 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
22170 of this type.
22171
22172 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
22173 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
22174 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
22175 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
22176 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
22177 target type is the aliased type.
22178
22179 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
22180 exception.
22181 @end defun
22182
22183 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
22184 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
22185 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
22186 @var{n}th template argument.
22187
22188 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
22189 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
22190
22191 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
22192 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
22193 @end defun
22194 @end table
22195
22196
22197 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
22198 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
22199 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
22200
22201 @table @code
22202 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
22203 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
22204 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
22205 The type is a pointer.
22206
22207 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22208 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22209 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22210 The type is an array.
22211
22212 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22213 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22214 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22215 The type is a structure.
22216
22217 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
22218 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
22219 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
22220 The type is a union.
22221
22222 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22223 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22224 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22225 The type is an enum.
22226
22227 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22228 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22229 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22230 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
22231
22232 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22233 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22234 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22235 The type is a function.
22236
22237 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
22238 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
22239 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
22240 The type is an integer type.
22241
22242 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
22243 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
22244 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
22245 A floating point type.
22246
22247 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
22248 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
22249 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
22250 The special type @code{void}.
22251
22252 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
22253 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
22254 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
22255 A Pascal set type.
22256
22257 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22258 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22259 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22260 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
22261
22262 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
22263 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
22264 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
22265 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
22266 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
22267
22268 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22269 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22270 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22271 A string of bits.
22272
22273 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22274 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22275 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22276 An unknown or erroneous type.
22277
22278 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22279 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22280 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22281 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
22282
22283 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22284 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22285 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22286 A pointer-to-member-function.
22287
22288 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22289 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22290 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22291 A pointer-to-member.
22292
22293 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
22294 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
22295 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
22296 A reference type.
22297
22298 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22299 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22300 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22301 A character type.
22302
22303 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22304 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22305 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22306 A boolean type.
22307
22308 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22309 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22310 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22311 A complex float type.
22312
22313 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22314 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22315 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22316 A typedef to some other type.
22317
22318 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22319 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22320 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22321 A C@t{++} namespace.
22322
22323 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22324 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22325 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22326 A decimal floating point type.
22327
22328 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22329 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22330 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22331 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
22332 convenience functions.
22333 @end table
22334
22335 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
22336 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
22337
22338 @node Pretty Printing API
22339 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
22340
22341 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
22342
22343 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
22344 specific interface, defined here.
22345
22346 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
22347 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
22348 children of the pretty-printer's value.
22349
22350 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
22351 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
22352 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
22353 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
22354 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
22355
22356 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
22357 as though the value has no children.
22358 @end defun
22359
22360 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
22361 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
22362 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
22363 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
22364 printed.
22365
22366 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
22367 string.
22368
22369 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
22370
22371 @table @samp
22372 @item array
22373 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
22374 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
22375 @code{set print array}.
22376
22377 @item map
22378 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
22379 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
22380 values.
22381
22382 @item string
22383 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
22384 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
22385 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
22386 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
22387 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
22388 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
22389 @end table
22390 @end defun
22391
22392 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
22393 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
22394 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
22395
22396 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
22397 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
22398 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
22399 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
22400 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
22401 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
22402 the result of @code{children}.
22403
22404 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
22405
22406 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
22407 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
22408 another pretty-printer.
22409
22410 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
22411 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
22412 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
22413 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
22414 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
22415
22416 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
22417 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
22418
22419 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
22420 @end defun
22421
22422 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
22423 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
22424
22425 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
22426 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
22427 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
22428 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
22429 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
22430 @end defun
22431
22432 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
22433 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
22434
22435 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
22436 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
22437 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
22438 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
22439 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
22440 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
22441 attribute.
22442
22443 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
22444 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
22445 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
22446 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
22447 @code{None}.
22448
22449 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
22450 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
22451 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
22452 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
22453 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
22454 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
22455 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
22456 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
22457 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
22458 object is returned.
22459
22460 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
22461 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
22462 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
22463 object is returned.
22464
22465 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
22466 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
22467 the pretty-printer is out of date.
22468
22469 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
22470 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
22471 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
22472 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
22473 with a broken printer.
22474
22475 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
22476 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
22477 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
22478 the printer is enabled.
22479
22480 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
22481 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
22482 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
22483
22484 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
22485 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
22486
22487 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
22488 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
22489 must provide.
22490
22491 @smallexample
22492 class StdStringPrinter(object):
22493 "Print a std::string"
22494
22495 def __init__(self, val):
22496 self.val = val
22497
22498 def to_string(self):
22499 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
22500
22501 def display_hint(self):
22502 return 'string'
22503 @end smallexample
22504
22505 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
22506 example above might be written.
22507
22508 @smallexample
22509 def str_lookup_function(val):
22510 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
22511 if lookup_tag == None:
22512 return None
22513 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
22514 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
22515 return StdStringPrinter(val)
22516 return None
22517 @end smallexample
22518
22519 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
22520 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
22521 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
22522 returns @code{None}.
22523
22524 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
22525 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
22526 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
22527 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
22528 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
22529 different names.
22530
22531 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
22532 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
22533 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
22534 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
22535 the current objfile.
22536
22537 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
22538 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
22539 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
22540 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
22541 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
22542 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
22543 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
22544 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
22545 inferior.
22546
22547 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
22548 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
22549
22550 @smallexample
22551 def register_printers(objfile):
22552 objfile.pretty_printers.add(str_lookup_function)
22553 @end smallexample
22554
22555 @noindent
22556 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
22557
22558 @smallexample
22559 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
22560 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
22561 @end smallexample
22562
22563 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
22564 There are a few things that can be improved on.
22565 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
22566 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
22567 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
22568
22569 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
22570 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
22571 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
22572 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
22573 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
22574 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
22575
22576 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
22577 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
22578 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
22579
22580 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
22581
22582 @smallexample
22583 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
22584 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
22585 @end smallexample
22586
22587 Here are the printers:
22588
22589 @smallexample
22590 class fooPrinter:
22591 """Print a foo object."""
22592
22593 def __init__(self, val):
22594 self.val = val
22595
22596 def to_string(self):
22597 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
22598 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
22599
22600 class barPrinter:
22601 """Print a bar object."""
22602
22603 def __init__(self, val):
22604 self.val = val
22605
22606 def to_string(self):
22607 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
22608 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
22609 @end smallexample
22610
22611 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
22612 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
22613 the object that handles the lookup.
22614
22615 @smallexample
22616 import gdb.printing
22617
22618 def build_pretty_printer():
22619 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
22620 "my_library")
22621 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
22622 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
22623 return pp
22624 @end smallexample
22625
22626 And here is the autoload support:
22627
22628 @smallexample
22629 import gdb.printing
22630 import my_library
22631 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
22632 gdb.current_objfile(),
22633 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
22634 @end smallexample
22635
22636 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
22637 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
22638
22639 @smallexample
22640 (gdb) info pretty-printer
22641 my_library.so:
22642 my_library
22643 foo
22644 bar
22645 @end smallexample
22646
22647 @node Inferiors In Python
22648 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
22649 @cindex inferiors in Python
22650
22651 @findex gdb.Inferior
22652 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
22653 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
22654 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
22655 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
22656
22657 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22658 module:
22659
22660 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
22661 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
22662 @end defun
22663
22664 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
22665 Return an object representing the current inferior.
22666 @end defun
22667
22668 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
22669
22670 @table @code
22671 @defvar Inferior.num
22672 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
22673 @end defvar
22674
22675 @defvar Inferior.pid
22676 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
22677 system.
22678 @end defvar
22679
22680 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
22681 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
22682 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
22683 @end defvar
22684 @end table
22685
22686 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
22687
22688 @table @code
22689 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
22690 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
22691 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
22692 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
22693 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
22694 at the time the method is called.
22695 @end defun
22696
22697 @defun Inferior.threads ()
22698 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
22699 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
22700 return an empty tuple.
22701 @end defun
22702
22703 @findex gdb.read_memory
22704 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
22705 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
22706 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
22707 or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
22708 function.
22709 @end defun
22710
22711 @findex gdb.write_memory
22712 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
22713 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
22714 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
22715 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
22716 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
22717 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
22718 @end defun
22719
22720 @findex gdb.search_memory
22721 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
22722 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
22723 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
22724 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
22725 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
22726 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
22727 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
22728 the pattern could not be found.
22729 @end defun
22730 @end table
22731
22732 @node Events In Python
22733 @subsubsection Events In Python
22734 @cindex inferior events in Python
22735
22736 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
22737 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
22738 the inferior.
22739
22740 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
22741 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
22742 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
22743
22744 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
22745 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
22746 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
22747 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
22748
22749 @table @code
22750 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
22751 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
22752 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
22753 @end defun
22754
22755 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
22756 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
22757 will no longer receive notifications of events.
22758 @end defun
22759 @end table
22760
22761 Here is an example:
22762
22763 @smallexample
22764 def exit_handler (event):
22765 print "event type: exit"
22766 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
22767
22768 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
22769 @end smallexample
22770
22771 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
22772 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
22773 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
22774 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
22775 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
22776 the inferior.
22777
22778 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
22779 details of the events they emit:
22780
22781 @table @code
22782
22783 @item events.cont
22784 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22785
22786 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
22787 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
22788 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
22789 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
22790 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
22791 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
22792
22793 @table @code
22794 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
22795 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
22796 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
22797 @end defvar
22798 @end table
22799
22800 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22801
22802 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
22803 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
22804
22805 @item events.exited
22806 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
22807 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
22808 @table @code
22809 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
22810 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
22811 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
22812 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
22813 the attribute does not exist.
22814 @end defvar
22815 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
22816 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
22817 @end defvar
22818 @end table
22819
22820 @item events.stop
22821 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22822
22823 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
22824 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
22825 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
22826 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
22827
22828 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
22829
22830 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
22831 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
22832
22833 @table @code
22834 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
22835 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
22836 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
22837 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
22838 @end defvar
22839 @end table
22840
22841 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
22842
22843 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
22844 been hit, and has the following attributes:
22845
22846 @table @code
22847 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
22848 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
22849 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
22850 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
22851 @end defvar
22852 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
22853 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
22854 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
22855 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
22856 @end defvar
22857 @end table
22858
22859 @item events.new_objfile
22860 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
22861 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
22862
22863 @table @code
22864 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
22865 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
22866 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
22867 @end defvar
22868 @end table
22869
22870 @end table
22871
22872 @node Threads In Python
22873 @subsubsection Threads In Python
22874 @cindex threads in python
22875
22876 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
22877 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
22878 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
22879
22880 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22881 module:
22882
22883 @findex gdb.selected_thread
22884 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
22885 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
22886 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
22887 @end defun
22888
22889 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
22890
22891 @table @code
22892 @defvar InferiorThread.name
22893 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
22894 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
22895 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
22896 returns @code{None}.
22897
22898 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
22899 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
22900 user-specified thread name.
22901 @end defvar
22902
22903 @defvar InferiorThread.num
22904 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
22905 @end defvar
22906
22907 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
22908 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
22909 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
22910 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
22911 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
22912 does not use that identifier.
22913 @end defvar
22914 @end table
22915
22916 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
22917
22918 @table @code
22919 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
22920 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
22921 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
22922 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
22923 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
22924 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
22925 @end defun
22926
22927 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
22928 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
22929 by this object.
22930 @end defun
22931
22932 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
22933 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
22934 @end defun
22935
22936 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
22937 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
22938 @end defun
22939
22940 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
22941 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
22942 @end defun
22943 @end table
22944
22945 @node Commands In Python
22946 @subsubsection Commands In Python
22947
22948 @cindex commands in python
22949 @cindex python commands
22950 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
22951 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
22952 class, most commonly using a subclass.
22953
22954 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
22955 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
22956 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
22957 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
22958
22959 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
22960 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
22961 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
22962 an exception is raised.
22963
22964 There is no support for multi-line commands.
22965
22966 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
22967 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
22968 new command in the help system.
22969
22970 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
22971 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
22972 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
22973 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
22974 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
22975 error will occur when completion is attempted.
22976
22977 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
22978 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
22979 registered.
22980
22981 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
22982 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
22983 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
22984 not documented.'' is used.
22985 @end defun
22986
22987 @cindex don't repeat Python command
22988 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
22989 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
22990 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
22991 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
22992 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
22993 @end defun
22994
22995 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
22996 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
22997
22998 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
22999 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
23000
23001 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
23002 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
23003 that the command came from elsewhere.
23004
23005 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
23006 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
23007
23008 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
23009 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
23010 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
23011 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
23012 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
23013 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
23014 Example:
23015
23016 @smallexample
23017 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
23018 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
23019 @end smallexample
23020
23021 @end defun
23022
23023 @cindex completion of Python commands
23024 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
23025 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
23026 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
23027 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
23028 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
23029 complete}).
23030
23031 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
23032 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
23033 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
23034 using a word-breaking heuristic.
23035
23036 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
23037 @itemize @bullet
23038 @item
23039 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
23040 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
23041 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
23042 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
23043 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
23044 sequence are ignored.
23045
23046 @item
23047 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
23048 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
23049 function is invoked, and its result is used.
23050
23051 @item
23052 All other results are treated as though there were no available
23053 completions.
23054 @end itemize
23055 @end defun
23056
23057 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
23058 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
23059 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
23060 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
23061 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
23062 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23063
23064 @table @code
23065 @findex COMMAND_NONE
23066 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
23067 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
23068 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
23069 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
23070
23071 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
23072 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
23073 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
23074 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
23075 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
23076 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23077 commands in this category.
23078
23079 @findex COMMAND_DATA
23080 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
23081 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
23082 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
23083 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
23084 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
23085 in this category.
23086
23087 @findex COMMAND_STACK
23088 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
23089 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
23090 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
23091 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
23092 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
23093 list of commands in this category.
23094
23095 @findex COMMAND_FILES
23096 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
23097 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
23098 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
23099 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
23100 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23101 commands in this category.
23102
23103 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
23104 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
23105 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
23106 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
23107 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
23108 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
23109 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
23110 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23111 commands in this category.
23112
23113 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
23114 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
23115 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
23116 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
23117 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
23118 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
23119 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
23120
23121 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23122 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23123 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23124 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
23125 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
23126 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
23127 this category.
23128
23129 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23130 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23131 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23132 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
23133 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
23134 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23135 commands in this category.
23136
23137 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
23138 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
23139 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
23140 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
23141 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
23142 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
23143 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
23144 category.
23145
23146 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23147 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23148 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23149 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
23150 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
23151 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23152 commands in this category.
23153 @end table
23154
23155 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
23156 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
23157 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
23158 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23159
23160 @table @code
23161 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
23162 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
23163 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
23164 This constant means that no completion should be done.
23165
23166 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
23167 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
23168 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
23169 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
23170
23171 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
23172 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
23173 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
23174 This constant means that location completion should be done.
23175 @xref{Specify Location}.
23176
23177 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
23178 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
23179 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
23180 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
23181 command names.
23182
23183 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23184 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23185 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23186 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
23187 as the source.
23188 @end table
23189
23190 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
23191 implemented in Python:
23192
23193 @smallexample
23194 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23195 """Greet the whole world."""
23196
23197 def __init__ (self):
23198 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
23199
23200 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
23201 print "Hello, World!"
23202
23203 HelloWorld ()
23204 @end smallexample
23205
23206 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
23207 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
23208 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
23209 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
23210
23211 @node Parameters In Python
23212 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
23213
23214 @cindex parameters in python
23215 @cindex python parameters
23216 @tindex gdb.Parameter
23217 @tindex Parameter
23218 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
23219 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
23220 class.
23221
23222 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
23223 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
23224
23225 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
23226 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
23227 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
23228 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
23229 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
23230
23231 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
23232 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
23233 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
23234 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
23235
23236 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
23237 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
23238 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
23239 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
23240 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
23241 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
23242 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
23243
23244 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
23245 can be found, an exception is raised.
23246
23247 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
23248 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
23249 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
23250
23251 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
23252 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
23253 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
23254 completion.
23255
23256 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
23257 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
23258 represent the possible values for the parameter.
23259
23260 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
23261 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
23262
23263 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
23264 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
23265 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
23266 @end defun
23267
23268 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
23269 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
23270 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
23271 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
23272 have no effect.
23273 @end defvar
23274
23275 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
23276 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
23277 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
23278 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
23279 have no effect.
23280 @end defvar
23281
23282 @defvar Parameter.value
23283 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
23284 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
23285 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
23286 @end defvar
23287
23288 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
23289 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
23290
23291 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
23292 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
23293 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
23294 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
23295 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
23296 @end defun
23297
23298 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
23299 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
23300 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
23301 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
23302 current value. This method must return a string.
23303 @end defun
23304
23305 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
23306 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
23307 module:
23308
23309 @table @code
23310 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
23311 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
23312 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
23313 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
23314 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
23315
23316 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23317 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23318 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23319 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
23320 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
23321 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
23322
23323 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
23324 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
23325 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
23326 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
23327 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
23328
23329 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
23330 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
23331 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
23332 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
23333 to mean ``unlimited''.
23334
23335 @findex PARAM_STRING
23336 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
23337 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
23338 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
23339 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
23340 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
23341 host charset.
23342
23343 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23344 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23345 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23346 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
23347 passed through untranslated.
23348
23349 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23350 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23351 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23352 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
23353
23354 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
23355 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
23356 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
23357 The value is a filename. This is just like
23358 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
23359
23360 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
23361 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
23362 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
23363 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
23364 is interpreted as itself.
23365
23366 @findex PARAM_ENUM
23367 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
23368 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
23369 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
23370 constants provided when the parameter is created.
23371 @end table
23372
23373 @node Functions In Python
23374 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
23375
23376 @cindex writing convenience functions
23377 @cindex convenience functions in python
23378 @cindex python convenience functions
23379 @tindex gdb.Function
23380 @tindex Function
23381 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
23382 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
23383 class @code{gdb.Function}.
23384
23385 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
23386 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
23387 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
23388 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
23389 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
23390 the given @var{name}.
23391
23392 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
23393 string for the new class.
23394 @end defun
23395
23396 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
23397 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
23398 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
23399 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
23400 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
23401 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
23402 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
23403 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
23404
23405 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
23406 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
23407 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
23408 @end defun
23409
23410 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
23411 be implemented in Python:
23412
23413 @smallexample
23414 class Greet (gdb.Function):
23415 """Return string to greet someone.
23416 Takes a name as argument."""
23417
23418 def __init__ (self):
23419 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
23420
23421 def invoke (self, name):
23422 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
23423
23424 Greet ()
23425 @end smallexample
23426
23427 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
23428 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
23429 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
23430 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
23431
23432 @node Progspaces In Python
23433 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
23434
23435 @cindex progspaces in python
23436 @tindex gdb.Progspace
23437 @tindex Progspace
23438 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
23439 of an address space.
23440 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
23441 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
23442 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
23443 about program spaces.
23444
23445 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
23446 @code{gdb} module:
23447
23448 @findex gdb.current_progspace
23449 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
23450 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
23451 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
23452 @end defun
23453
23454 @findex gdb.progspaces
23455 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
23456 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
23457 @end defun
23458
23459 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
23460 class.
23461
23462 @defvar Progspace.filename
23463 The file name of the progspace as a string.
23464 @end defvar
23465
23466 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
23467 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
23468 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
23469 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
23470 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
23471 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
23472 information.
23473 @end defvar
23474
23475 @node Objfiles In Python
23476 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
23477
23478 @cindex objfiles in python
23479 @tindex gdb.Objfile
23480 @tindex Objfile
23481 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
23482 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
23483 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
23484 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
23485 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
23486
23487 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
23488 @code{gdb} module:
23489
23490 @findex gdb.current_objfile
23491 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
23492 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
23493 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
23494 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
23495 this function returns @code{None}.
23496 @end defun
23497
23498 @findex gdb.objfiles
23499 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
23500 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
23501 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
23502 @end defun
23503
23504 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
23505 class.
23506
23507 @defvar Objfile.filename
23508 The file name of the objfile as a string.
23509 @end defvar
23510
23511 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
23512 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
23513 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
23514 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
23515 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
23516 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
23517 information.
23518 @end defvar
23519
23520 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
23521
23522 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
23523 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
23524 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
23525 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
23526 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
23527 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23528 @end defun
23529
23530 @node Frames In Python
23531 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23532
23533 @cindex frames in python
23534 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
23535 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
23536 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
23537 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
23538 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
23539 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
23540
23541 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
23542 operator, like:
23543
23544 @smallexample
23545 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
23546 True
23547 @end smallexample
23548
23549 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
23550
23551 @findex gdb.selected_frame
23552 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
23553 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
23554 @end defun
23555
23556 @findex gdb.newest_frame
23557 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
23558 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
23559 @end defun
23560
23561 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
23562 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
23563 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
23564 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
23565 @end defun
23566
23567 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
23568
23569 @table @code
23570 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
23571 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
23572 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
23573 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
23574 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23575 @end defun
23576
23577 @defun Frame.name ()
23578 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
23579 obtained.
23580 @end defun
23581
23582 @defun Frame.type ()
23583 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
23584 @table @code
23585 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
23586 An ordinary stack frame.
23587
23588 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
23589 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
23590 inferior function call.
23591
23592 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
23593 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
23594 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
23595
23596 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
23597 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
23598
23599 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
23600 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
23601 it calls into a signal handler.
23602
23603 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
23604 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
23605
23606 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
23607 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
23608 newest frame.
23609 @end table
23610 @end defun
23611
23612 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
23613 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
23614 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
23615 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
23616 function to a string. The value can be one of:
23617
23618 @table @code
23619 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
23620 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
23621
23622 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
23623 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
23624
23625 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
23626 This frame is the outermost.
23627
23628 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
23629 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
23630 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
23631
23632 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
23633 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
23634 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
23635 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
23636
23637 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
23638 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
23639 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
23640 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
23641 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
23642 stack corruption.
23643
23644 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
23645 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
23646 one to unwind further.
23647
23648 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
23649 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
23650 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
23651 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
23652 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
23653 versions. Using it, you could write:
23654 @smallexample
23655 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
23656 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
23657 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
23658 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
23659 @end smallexample
23660 @end table
23661
23662 @end defun
23663
23664 @defun Frame.pc ()
23665 Returns the frame's resume address.
23666 @end defun
23667
23668 @defun Frame.block ()
23669 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
23670 @end defun
23671
23672 @defun Frame.function ()
23673 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
23674 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
23675 @end defun
23676
23677 @defun Frame.older ()
23678 Return the frame that called this frame.
23679 @end defun
23680
23681 @defun Frame.newer ()
23682 Return the frame called by this frame.
23683 @end defun
23684
23685 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
23686 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
23687 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
23688 @end defun
23689
23690 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
23691 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
23692 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
23693 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
23694 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
23695 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
23696 @code{gdb.Block} object.
23697 @end defun
23698
23699 @defun Frame.select ()
23700 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
23701 Stack}.
23702 @end defun
23703 @end table
23704
23705 @node Blocks In Python
23706 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
23707
23708 @cindex blocks in python
23709 @tindex gdb.Block
23710
23711 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
23712 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
23713 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
23714 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
23715 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
23716 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
23717 stack.
23718
23719 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23720 module:
23721
23722 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
23723 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
23724 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
23725 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
23726 will return @code{None}.
23727 @end defun
23728
23729 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
23730
23731 @table @code
23732 @defun Block.is_valid ()
23733 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
23734 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
23735 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
23736 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
23737 the time the method is called. This method is also made available to
23738 the Python iterator object that @code{gdb.Block} provides in an iteration
23739 context and via the Python @code{iter} built-in function.
23740 @end defun
23741 @end table
23742
23743 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
23744
23745 @table @code
23746 @defvar Block.start
23747 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
23748 @end defvar
23749
23750 @defvar Block.end
23751 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
23752 @end defvar
23753
23754 @defvar Block.function
23755 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
23756 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
23757 attribute is not writable.
23758 @end defvar
23759
23760 @defvar Block.superblock
23761 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
23762 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
23763 @end defvar
23764
23765 @defvar Block.global_block
23766 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
23767 writable.
23768 @end defvar
23769
23770 @defvar Block.static_block
23771 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
23772 writable.
23773 @end defvar
23774
23775 @defvar Block.is_global
23776 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
23777 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
23778 writable.
23779 @end defvar
23780
23781 @defvar Block.is_static
23782 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
23783 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
23784 @end defvar
23785 @end table
23786
23787 @node Symbols In Python
23788 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
23789
23790 @cindex symbols in python
23791 @tindex gdb.Symbol
23792
23793 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
23794 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
23795 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
23796 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
23797
23798 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23799 module:
23800
23801 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
23802 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
23803 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
23804 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
23805 arguments.
23806
23807 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
23808 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
23809 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
23810 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
23811 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
23812 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
23813 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
23814 in this chapter.
23815
23816 The result is a tuple of two elements.
23817 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
23818 is not found.
23819 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
23820 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
23821 otherwise it is @code{False}.
23822 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
23823 @end defun
23824
23825 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
23826 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
23827 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
23828 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
23829
23830 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
23831 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
23832 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
23833 module and described later in this chapter.
23834
23835 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
23836 is not found.
23837 @end defun
23838
23839 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
23840
23841 @table @code
23842 @defvar Symbol.type
23843 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
23844 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
23845 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
23846 @end defvar
23847
23848 @defvar Symbol.symtab
23849 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
23850 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
23851 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
23852 @end defvar
23853
23854 @defvar Symbol.name
23855 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
23856 @end defvar
23857
23858 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
23859 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
23860 This attribute is not writable.
23861 @end defvar
23862
23863 @defvar Symbol.print_name
23864 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
23865 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
23866 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
23867 @end defvar
23868
23869 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
23870 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
23871 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
23872 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
23873 @end defvar
23874
23875 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
23876 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
23877 @end defvar
23878
23879 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
23880 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
23881 @end defvar
23882
23883 @defvar Symbol.is_function
23884 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
23885 @end defvar
23886
23887 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
23888 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
23889 @end defvar
23890 @end table
23891
23892 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
23893
23894 @table @code
23895 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
23896 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
23897 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
23898 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
23899 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
23900 invalid at the time the method is called.
23901 @end defun
23902 @end table
23903
23904 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
23905 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
23906
23907 @table @code
23908 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
23909 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
23910 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
23911 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
23912 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
23913 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
23914 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
23915 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
23916 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
23917 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
23918 type values.
23919 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
23920 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
23921 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
23922 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
23923 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
23924 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
23925 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
23926 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
23927 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
23928 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
23929 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
23930 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
23931 contains everything minus functions and types.
23932 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
23933 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
23934 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
23935 This domain contains all functions.
23936 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
23937 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
23938 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
23939 This domain contains all types.
23940 @end table
23941
23942 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
23943 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
23944
23945 @table @code
23946 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
23947 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
23948 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
23949 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
23950 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
23951 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
23952 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
23953 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
23954 Value is constant int.
23955 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
23956 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
23957 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
23958 Value is at a fixed address.
23959 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
23960 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
23961 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
23962 Value is in a register.
23963 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
23964 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
23965 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
23966 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
23967 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
23968 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
23969 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
23970 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
23971 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
23972 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
23973 offset, not the value itself.
23974 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
23975 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
23976 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
23977 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
23978 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
23979 itself.
23980 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
23981 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
23982 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
23983 Value is a local variable.
23984 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
23985 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
23986 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
23987 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
23988 have this class.
23989 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
23990 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
23991 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
23992 Value is a block.
23993 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
23994 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
23995 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
23996 Value is a byte-sequence.
23997 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
23998 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
23999 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
24000 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
24001 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
24002 referenced.
24003 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24004 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24005 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24006 The value does not actually exist in the program.
24007 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24008 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24009 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24010 The value's address is a computed location.
24011 @end table
24012
24013 @node Symbol Tables In Python
24014 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
24015
24016 @cindex symbol tables in python
24017 @tindex gdb.Symtab
24018 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
24019
24020 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
24021 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
24022 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
24023 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
24024 @xref{Frames In Python}.
24025
24026 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
24027 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
24028
24029 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
24030
24031 @table @code
24032 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
24033 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
24034 This attribute is not writable.
24035 @end defvar
24036
24037 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
24038 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
24039 writable.
24040 @end defvar
24041
24042 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
24043 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
24044 attribute is not writable.
24045 @end defvar
24046 @end table
24047
24048 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
24049
24050 @table @code
24051 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
24052 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
24053 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
24054 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
24055 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
24056 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
24057 invalid at the time the method is called.
24058 @end defun
24059 @end table
24060
24061 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
24062
24063 @table @code
24064 @defvar Symtab.filename
24065 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
24066 @end defvar
24067
24068 @defvar Symtab.objfile
24069 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24070 This attribute is not writable.
24071 @end defvar
24072 @end table
24073
24074 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
24075
24076 @table @code
24077 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
24078 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
24079 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
24080 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
24081 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
24082 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24083 @end defun
24084
24085 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
24086 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
24087 @end defun
24088 @end table
24089
24090 @node Breakpoints In Python
24091 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
24092
24093 @cindex breakpoints in python
24094 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
24095
24096 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
24097 class.
24098
24099 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
24100 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
24101 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
24102 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
24103 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
24104 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
24105 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
24106 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
24107 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
24108 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
24109 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
24110 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
24111 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
24112 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
24113 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
24114 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
24115 @end defun
24116
24117 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
24118 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
24119 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
24120 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
24121 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
24122 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
24123 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
24124 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
24125
24126 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
24127 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
24128 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
24129 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
24130 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
24131 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
24132
24133 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
24134 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
24135 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
24136 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
24137 at this time.
24138
24139 Example @code{stop} implementation:
24140
24141 @smallexample
24142 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
24143 def stop (self):
24144 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
24145 if inf_val == 3:
24146 return True
24147 return False
24148 @end smallexample
24149 @end defun
24150
24151 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
24152 @code{gdb} module:
24153
24154 @table @code
24155 @findex WP_READ
24156 @findex gdb.WP_READ
24157 @item gdb.WP_READ
24158 Read only watchpoint.
24159
24160 @findex WP_WRITE
24161 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
24162 @item gdb.WP_WRITE
24163 Write only watchpoint.
24164
24165 @findex WP_ACCESS
24166 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
24167 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
24168 Read/Write watchpoint.
24169 @end table
24170
24171 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
24172 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
24173 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
24174 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
24175 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
24176 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
24177 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
24178 @end defun
24179
24180 @defun Breakpoint.delete
24181 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
24182 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
24183 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
24184 @end defun
24185
24186 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
24187 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
24188 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
24189 @end defvar
24190
24191 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
24192 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
24193 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
24194
24195 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
24196 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
24197 @code{silent} attribute.
24198 @end defvar
24199
24200 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
24201 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
24202 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
24203 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
24204 @end defvar
24205
24206 @defvar Breakpoint.task
24207 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
24208 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
24209 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
24210 is writable.
24211 @end defvar
24212
24213 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
24214 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
24215 This attribute is writable.
24216 @end defvar
24217
24218 @defvar Breakpoint.number
24219 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
24220 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
24221 @end defvar
24222
24223 @defvar Breakpoint.type
24224 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
24225 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
24226 writable.
24227 @end defvar
24228
24229 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
24230 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
24231 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
24232 attribute is not writable.
24233 @end defvar
24234
24235 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
24236 module:
24237
24238 @table @code
24239 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
24240 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
24241 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
24242 Normal code breakpoint.
24243
24244 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
24245 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
24246 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
24247 Watchpoint breakpoint.
24248
24249 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24250 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24251 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24252 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
24253
24254 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24255 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24256 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24257 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
24258
24259 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24260 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24261 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24262 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
24263 @end table
24264
24265 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
24266 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
24267 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
24268 @end defvar
24269
24270 @defvar Breakpoint.location
24271 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
24272 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
24273 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
24274 attribute is not writable.
24275 @end defvar
24276
24277 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
24278 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
24279 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
24280 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
24281 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24282 @end defvar
24283
24284 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
24285 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
24286 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
24287 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
24288 @end defvar
24289
24290 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
24291 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
24292 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
24293 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
24294 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24295 @end defvar
24296
24297 @node Lazy Strings In Python
24298 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
24299
24300 @cindex lazy strings in python
24301 @tindex gdb.LazyString
24302
24303 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
24304 encoded until it is needed.
24305
24306 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
24307 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
24308 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
24309 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
24310 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
24311 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
24312 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
24313 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
24314 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
24315
24316 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
24317
24318 @defun LazyString.value ()
24319 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
24320 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
24321 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
24322 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
24323 @end defun
24324
24325 @defvar LazyString.address
24326 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
24327 writable.
24328 @end defvar
24329
24330 @defvar LazyString.length
24331 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
24332 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
24333 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
24334 @end defvar
24335
24336 @defvar LazyString.encoding
24337 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
24338 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
24339 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
24340 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
24341 is not writable.
24342 @end defvar
24343
24344 @defvar LazyString.type
24345 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
24346 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
24347 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
24348 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
24349 writable.
24350 @end defvar
24351
24352 @node Auto-loading
24353 @subsection Auto-loading
24354 @cindex auto-loading, Python
24355
24356 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
24357 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
24358 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
24359 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
24360
24361 @menu
24362 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
24363 * .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24364 * Which flavor to choose?::
24365 @end menu
24366
24367 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
24368 debugging commands and scripts.
24369
24370 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
24371 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
24372
24373 @table @code
24374 @kindex set auto-load-scripts
24375 @item set auto-load-scripts [yes|no]
24376 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
24377
24378 @kindex show auto-load-scripts
24379 @item show auto-load-scripts
24380 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
24381
24382 @kindex info auto-load-scripts
24383 @cindex print list of auto-loaded scripts
24384 @item info auto-load-scripts [@var{regexp}]
24385 Print the list of all scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
24386
24387 Also printed is the list of scripts that were mentioned in
24388 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
24389 (@pxref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}).
24390 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
24391 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
24392 an error message for each one is problematic.
24393
24394 If @var{regexp} is supplied only scripts with matching names are printed.
24395
24396 Example:
24397
24398 @smallexample
24399 (gdb) info auto-load-scripts
24400 Loaded Script
24401 Yes py-section-script.py
24402 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
24403 Missing my-foo-pretty-printers.py
24404 @end smallexample
24405 @end table
24406
24407 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
24408 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
24409 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
24410 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
24411
24412 @node objfile-gdb.py file
24413 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
24414 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
24415
24416 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
24417 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
24418 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
24419 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
24420 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
24421 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
24422
24423 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
24424 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
24425 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
24426 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
24427
24428 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
24429 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
24430 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
24431 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
24432 is the object file's real name, as described above.
24433
24434 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
24435 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
24436 @var{objfile} is opened.
24437 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
24438 is evaluated more than once.
24439
24440 @node .debug_gdb_scripts section
24441 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24442 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24443
24444 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
24445 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
24446 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
24447 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
24448
24449 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
24450 current directory and then along the source search path
24451 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
24452 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
24453 directory is not relevant to scripts.
24454
24455 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
24456 for example, this GCC macro:
24457
24458 @example
24459 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
24460 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
24461 asm("\
24462 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
24463 .byte 1\n\
24464 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
24465 .popsection \n\
24466 ");
24467 @end example
24468
24469 @noindent
24470 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
24471
24472 @example
24473 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
24474 @end example
24475
24476 The script name may include directories if desired.
24477
24478 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
24479 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
24480
24481 @node Which flavor to choose?
24482 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
24483
24484 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
24485 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
24486
24487 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
24488
24489 @itemize @bullet
24490 @item
24491 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
24492
24493 @item
24494 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
24495
24496 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
24497 in the source search path.
24498 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
24499 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
24500
24501 @item
24502 Doesn't require source code additions.
24503 @end itemize
24504
24505 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
24506
24507 @itemize @bullet
24508 @item
24509 Works with static linking.
24510
24511 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
24512 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
24513 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
24514 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
24515
24516 @item
24517 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
24518
24519 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
24520 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
24521
24522 @item
24523 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
24524
24525 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
24526 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
24527 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
24528 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
24529 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
24530 top of the source tree to the source search path.
24531 @end itemize
24532
24533 @node Python modules
24534 @subsection Python modules
24535 @cindex python modules
24536
24537 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
24538
24539 @menu
24540 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
24541 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
24542 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
24543 @end menu
24544
24545 @node gdb.printing
24546 @subsubsection gdb.printing
24547 @cindex gdb.printing
24548
24549 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
24550 pretty-printers.
24551
24552 @table @code
24553 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
24554 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
24555 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
24556 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
24557
24558 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
24559 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
24560 corresponding API for the subprinters.
24561
24562 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
24563 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
24564 regular expressions.
24565 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
24566
24567 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
24568 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
24569 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
24570 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
24571 if a printer with the same name already exists.
24572 @end table
24573
24574 @node gdb.types
24575 @subsubsection gdb.types
24576 @cindex gdb.types
24577
24578 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
24579 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
24580
24581 @table @code
24582 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
24583 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
24584 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
24585
24586 C@t{++} example:
24587
24588 @smallexample
24589 typedef const int const_int;
24590 const_int foo (3);
24591 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
24592 int main () @{ return 0; @}
24593 @end smallexample
24594
24595 Then in gdb:
24596
24597 @smallexample
24598 (gdb) start
24599 (gdb) python import gdb.types
24600 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
24601 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
24602 int
24603 @end smallexample
24604
24605 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
24606 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
24607 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
24608
24609 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
24610 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
24611
24612 @item deep_items (@var{type})
24613 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
24614 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
24615 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
24616 union fields. For example:
24617
24618 @smallexample
24619 struct A
24620 @{
24621 int a;
24622 union @{
24623 int b0;
24624 int b1;
24625 @};
24626 @};
24627 @end smallexample
24628
24629 @noindent
24630 Then in @value{GDBN}:
24631 @smallexample
24632 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
24633 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
24634 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
24635 @{['a', '']@}
24636 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
24637 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
24638 @end smallexample
24639
24640 @end table
24641
24642 @node gdb.prompt
24643 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
24644 @cindex gdb.prompt
24645
24646 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
24647
24648 @table @code
24649 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
24650 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
24651 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
24652 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
24653
24654 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
24655
24656 @table @code
24657 @item \\
24658 Substitute a backslash.
24659 @item \e
24660 Substitute an ESC character.
24661 @item \f
24662 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
24663 @item \n
24664 Substitute a newline.
24665 @item \p
24666 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
24667 @item \r
24668 Substitute a carriage return.
24669 @item \t
24670 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
24671 @item \v
24672 Substitute the version of GDB.
24673 @item \w
24674 Substitute the current working directory.
24675 @item \[
24676 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
24677 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
24678 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
24679 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
24680 @item \]
24681 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
24682 @end table
24683
24684 For example:
24685
24686 @smallexample
24687 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
24688 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
24689 @end smallexample
24690
24691 @exdent will return the string:
24692
24693 @smallexample
24694 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
24695 @end smallexample
24696 @end table
24697
24698 @node Aliases
24699 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
24700 @cindex aliases for commands
24701
24702 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
24703 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
24704 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
24705 that involves less typing.
24706
24707 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
24708 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
24709 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
24710
24711 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
24712 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
24713 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
24714
24715 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
24716
24717 @table @code
24718
24719 @kindex alias
24720 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
24721
24722 @end table
24723
24724 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
24725 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
24726 underscores.
24727
24728 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
24729 that is being aliased.
24730
24731 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
24732 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
24733 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
24734
24735 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
24736 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
24737
24738 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
24739 of a command so that there is less to type.
24740 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
24741 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
24742 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
24743 The following will accomplish this.
24744
24745 @smallexample
24746 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
24747 @end smallexample
24748
24749 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
24750 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
24751 for it with the @samp{document} command.
24752 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
24753
24754 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
24755 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
24756 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
24757 of a command.
24758
24759 @smallexample
24760 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
24761 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
24762 (gdb) set p elms 20
24763 (gdb) show p elms
24764 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
24765 @end smallexample
24766
24767 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
24768 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
24769 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
24770
24771 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
24772 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
24773
24774 @smallexample
24775 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
24776 @end smallexample
24777
24778 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
24779 alias for a more complex command.
24780 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
24781
24782 @smallexample
24783 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
24784 (gdb) spe 20
24785 @end smallexample
24786
24787 @node Interpreters
24788 @chapter Command Interpreters
24789 @cindex command interpreters
24790
24791 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
24792 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
24793 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
24794
24795 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
24796 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
24797 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
24798 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
24799
24800 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
24801 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
24802 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
24803 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
24804
24805 @table @code
24806 @item console
24807 @cindex console interpreter
24808 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
24809 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
24810 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
24811
24812 @item mi
24813 @cindex mi interpreter
24814 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
24815 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
24816 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
24817 Interface}.
24818
24819 @item mi2
24820 @cindex mi2 interpreter
24821 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
24822
24823 @item mi1
24824 @cindex mi1 interpreter
24825 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
24826
24827 @end table
24828
24829 @cindex invoke another interpreter
24830 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
24831 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
24832 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
24833 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
24834 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
24835 the IDE inoperable!
24836
24837 @kindex interpreter-exec
24838 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
24839 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
24840 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
24841 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
24842
24843 @smallexample
24844 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
24845 @end smallexample
24846
24847 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
24848 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
24849
24850 @node TUI
24851 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
24852 @cindex TUI
24853 @cindex Text User Interface
24854
24855 @menu
24856 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
24857 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
24858 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
24859 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
24860 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
24861 @end menu
24862
24863 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
24864 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
24865 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
24866 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
24867 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
24868 is available.
24869
24870 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
24871 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
24872 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
24873 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
24874 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
24875 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
24876
24877 @node TUI Overview
24878 @section TUI Overview
24879
24880 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
24881
24882 @table @emph
24883 @item command
24884 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
24885 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
24886 managed using readline.
24887
24888 @item source
24889 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
24890 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
24891
24892 @item assembly
24893 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
24894
24895 @item register
24896 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
24897 when their values change.
24898 @end table
24899
24900 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
24901 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
24902 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
24903 indicates the breakpoint type:
24904
24905 @table @code
24906 @item B
24907 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
24908
24909 @item b
24910 Breakpoint which was never hit.
24911
24912 @item H
24913 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
24914
24915 @item h
24916 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
24917 @end table
24918
24919 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
24920
24921 @table @code
24922 @item +
24923 Breakpoint is enabled.
24924
24925 @item -
24926 Breakpoint is disabled.
24927 @end table
24928
24929 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
24930 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
24931 changes.
24932
24933 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
24934 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
24935 layouts:
24936
24937 @itemize @bullet
24938 @item
24939 source only,
24940
24941 @item
24942 assembly only,
24943
24944 @item
24945 source and assembly,
24946
24947 @item
24948 source and registers, or
24949
24950 @item
24951 assembly and registers.
24952 @end itemize
24953
24954 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
24955
24956 @table @emph
24957 @item target
24958 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
24959 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
24960
24961 @item process
24962 Gives the current process or thread number.
24963 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
24964
24965 @item function
24966 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
24967 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
24968 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
24969 the string @code{??} is displayed.
24970
24971 @item line
24972 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
24973 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
24974
24975 @item pc
24976 Indicates the current program counter address.
24977 @end table
24978
24979 @node TUI Keys
24980 @section TUI Key Bindings
24981 @cindex TUI key bindings
24982
24983 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
24984 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
24985 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
24986 @end ifset
24987 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
24988 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
24989 @end ifclear
24990 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
24991 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
24992
24993 @table @kbd
24994 @kindex C-x C-a
24995 @item C-x C-a
24996 @kindex C-x a
24997 @itemx C-x a
24998 @kindex C-x A
24999 @itemx C-x A
25000 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
25001 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
25002 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
25003 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
25004 The screen is then refreshed.
25005
25006 @kindex C-x 1
25007 @item C-x 1
25008 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
25009 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
25010 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
25011
25012 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
25013
25014 @kindex C-x 2
25015 @item C-x 2
25016 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
25017 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
25018 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
25019 previous layout and the new one.
25020
25021 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
25022
25023 @kindex C-x o
25024 @item C-x o
25025 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
25026 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
25027 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
25028
25029 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
25030
25031 @kindex C-x s
25032 @item C-x s
25033 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
25034 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
25035 @end table
25036
25037 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
25038
25039 @table @asis
25040 @kindex PgUp
25041 @item @key{PgUp}
25042 Scroll the active window one page up.
25043
25044 @kindex PgDn
25045 @item @key{PgDn}
25046 Scroll the active window one page down.
25047
25048 @kindex Up
25049 @item @key{Up}
25050 Scroll the active window one line up.
25051
25052 @kindex Down
25053 @item @key{Down}
25054 Scroll the active window one line down.
25055
25056 @kindex Left
25057 @item @key{Left}
25058 Scroll the active window one column left.
25059
25060 @kindex Right
25061 @item @key{Right}
25062 Scroll the active window one column right.
25063
25064 @kindex C-L
25065 @item @kbd{C-L}
25066 Refresh the screen.
25067 @end table
25068
25069 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
25070 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
25071 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
25072 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
25073 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
25074
25075 @node TUI Single Key Mode
25076 @section TUI Single Key Mode
25077 @cindex TUI single key mode
25078
25079 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
25080 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
25081 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
25082
25083 @table @kbd
25084 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25085 @item c
25086 continue
25087
25088 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25089 @item d
25090 down
25091
25092 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25093 @item f
25094 finish
25095
25096 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25097 @item n
25098 next
25099
25100 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25101 @item q
25102 exit the SingleKey mode.
25103
25104 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25105 @item r
25106 run
25107
25108 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25109 @item s
25110 step
25111
25112 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25113 @item u
25114 up
25115
25116 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25117 @item v
25118 info locals
25119
25120 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25121 @item w
25122 where
25123 @end table
25124
25125 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25126 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
25127 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
25128 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
25129 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
25130 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
25131
25132
25133 @node TUI Commands
25134 @section TUI-specific Commands
25135 @cindex TUI commands
25136
25137 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
25138 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
25139 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
25140 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
25141
25142 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
25143 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
25144 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
25145 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
25146 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
25147
25148 @table @code
25149 @item info win
25150 @kindex info win
25151 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
25152
25153 @item layout next
25154 @kindex layout
25155 Display the next layout.
25156
25157 @item layout prev
25158 Display the previous layout.
25159
25160 @item layout src
25161 Display the source window only.
25162
25163 @item layout asm
25164 Display the assembly window only.
25165
25166 @item layout split
25167 Display the source and assembly window.
25168
25169 @item layout regs
25170 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
25171
25172 @item focus next
25173 @kindex focus
25174 Make the next window active for scrolling.
25175
25176 @item focus prev
25177 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
25178
25179 @item focus src
25180 Make the source window active for scrolling.
25181
25182 @item focus asm
25183 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
25184
25185 @item focus regs
25186 Make the register window active for scrolling.
25187
25188 @item focus cmd
25189 Make the command window active for scrolling.
25190
25191 @item refresh
25192 @kindex refresh
25193 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
25194
25195 @item tui reg float
25196 @kindex tui reg
25197 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
25198
25199 @item tui reg general
25200 Show the general registers in the register window.
25201
25202 @item tui reg next
25203 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
25204 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
25205 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
25206 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
25207
25208 @item tui reg system
25209 Show the system registers in the register window.
25210
25211 @item update
25212 @kindex update
25213 Update the source window and the current execution point.
25214
25215 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
25216 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
25217 @kindex winheight
25218 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
25219 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
25220 decrease it.
25221
25222 @item tabset @var{nchars}
25223 @kindex tabset
25224 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
25225 @end table
25226
25227 @node TUI Configuration
25228 @section TUI Configuration Variables
25229 @cindex TUI configuration variables
25230
25231 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
25232
25233 @table @code
25234 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
25235 @kindex set tui border-kind
25236 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
25237 The possible values are the following:
25238 @table @code
25239 @item space
25240 Use a space character to draw the border.
25241
25242 @item ascii
25243 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
25244
25245 @item acs
25246 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
25247 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
25248 @end table
25249
25250 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
25251 @kindex set tui border-mode
25252 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
25253 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
25254 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
25255 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
25256 @table @code
25257 @item normal
25258 Use normal attributes to display the border.
25259
25260 @item standout
25261 Use standout mode.
25262
25263 @item reverse
25264 Use reverse video mode.
25265
25266 @item half
25267 Use half bright mode.
25268
25269 @item half-standout
25270 Use half bright and standout mode.
25271
25272 @item bold
25273 Use extra bright or bold mode.
25274
25275 @item bold-standout
25276 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
25277 @end table
25278 @end table
25279
25280 @node Emacs
25281 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
25282
25283 @cindex Emacs
25284 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
25285 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
25286 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
25287 @value{GDBN}.
25288
25289 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
25290 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
25291 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
25292 created Emacs buffer.
25293 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
25294
25295 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
25296 things:
25297
25298 @itemize @bullet
25299 @item
25300 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
25301 the GUD buffer.
25302
25303 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
25304 and output done by the program you are debugging.
25305
25306 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
25307 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
25308 in this way.
25309
25310 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
25311 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
25312 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
25313 stop.
25314
25315 @item
25316 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
25317
25318 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
25319 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
25320 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
25321 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
25322 and the source.
25323
25324 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
25325 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
25326 @end itemize
25327
25328 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
25329 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
25330 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
25331 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
25332
25333 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
25334 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
25335 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
25336 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
25337 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
25338 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
25339 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
25340 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
25341 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
25342
25343 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
25344 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
25345 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
25346 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
25347
25348 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
25349 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
25350 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
25351 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
25352 one you want.
25353
25354 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
25355 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
25356
25357 @table @kbd
25358 @item C-h m
25359 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
25360
25361 @item C-c C-s
25362 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
25363 update the display window to show the current file and location.
25364
25365 @item C-c C-n
25366 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
25367 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
25368 to show the current file and location.
25369
25370 @item C-c C-i
25371 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
25372 display window accordingly.
25373
25374 @item C-c C-f
25375 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
25376 @code{finish} command.
25377
25378 @item C-c C-r
25379 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
25380 command.
25381
25382 @item C-c <
25383 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
25384 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
25385 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
25386
25387 @item C-c >
25388 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
25389 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
25390 @end table
25391
25392 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
25393 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
25394
25395 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
25396 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
25397 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
25398 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
25399 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
25400 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
25401 speedbar displays watch expressions.
25402
25403 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
25404 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
25405 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
25406 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
25407 frame.
25408
25409 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
25410 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
25411 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
25412 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
25413 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
25414 to correspond properly with the code.
25415
25416 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
25417 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
25418 Emacs Manual}).
25419
25420 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
25421 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
25422 @ignore
25423 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
25424 @kindex Epoch
25425 @kindex inspect
25426
25427 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
25428 called the @code{epoch}
25429 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
25430 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
25431 each value is printed in its own window.
25432 @end ignore
25433
25434
25435 @node GDB/MI
25436 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
25437
25438 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
25439
25440 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
25441 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
25442 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
25443 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
25444 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
25445 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
25446
25447 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
25448 in the form of a reference manual.
25449
25450 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
25451 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
25452 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
25453
25454 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
25455
25456 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
25457 This chapter uses the following notation:
25458
25459 @itemize @bullet
25460 @item
25461 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
25462
25463 @item
25464 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
25465 it may or may not be given.
25466
25467 @item
25468 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25469 may repeat zero or more times.
25470
25471 @item
25472 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25473 may repeat one or more times.
25474
25475 @item
25476 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
25477 @end itemize
25478
25479 @ignore
25480 @heading Dependencies
25481 @end ignore
25482
25483 @menu
25484 * GDB/MI General Design::
25485 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
25486 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
25487 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
25488 * GDB/MI Output Records::
25489 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
25490 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
25491 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
25492 * GDB/MI Program Context::
25493 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
25494 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
25495 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
25496 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
25497 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
25498 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
25499 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
25500 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
25501 * GDB/MI File Commands::
25502 @ignore
25503 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
25504 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
25505 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
25506 @end ignore
25507 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
25508 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
25509 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
25510 @end menu
25511
25512 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25513 @node GDB/MI General Design
25514 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
25515 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
25516
25517 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
25518 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
25519 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
25520 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
25521 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
25522 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
25523 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
25524 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
25525 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
25526 a command and reported as part of that command response.
25527
25528 The important examples of notifications are:
25529 @itemize @bullet
25530
25531 @item
25532 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
25533 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
25534 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
25535 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
25536 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
25537 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
25538 command itself was successfully executed.
25539
25540 @item
25541 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
25542 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
25543 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
25544 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
25545 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
25546 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
25547
25548 @item
25549 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
25550 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
25551 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
25552 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
25553 orthogonal frontend design.
25554
25555 @end itemize
25556
25557 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
25558 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
25559 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
25560 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
25561 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
25562 the user interface.
25563
25564
25565 @menu
25566 * Context management::
25567 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
25568 * Thread groups::
25569 @end menu
25570
25571 @node Context management
25572 @subsection Context management
25573
25574 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
25575 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
25576 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
25577 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
25578 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
25579 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
25580 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
25581 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
25582 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
25583
25584 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
25585 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
25586 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
25587 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
25588 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
25589 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
25590 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
25591 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
25592 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
25593 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
25594 for thread and frame to operate on.
25595
25596 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
25597 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
25598 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
25599 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
25600 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
25601 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
25602 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
25603 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
25604 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
25605 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
25606
25607 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
25608 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
25609 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
25610 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
25611 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
25612 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
25613 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
25614 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
25615 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
25616 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
25617 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
25618 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
25619 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
25620 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
25621 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
25622 @samp{--frame} options.
25623
25624 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
25625 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
25626
25627 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
25628 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
25629 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
25630 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
25631 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
25632 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
25633 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
25634 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
25635 @code{-list-target-features} command.
25636
25637 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
25638 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
25639 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
25640 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
25641 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
25642 are running.
25643
25644 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
25645 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
25646 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
25647 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
25648 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
25649 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
25650 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
25651 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
25652 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
25653 @samp{--thread} option).
25654
25655 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
25656 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
25657 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
25658 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
25659
25660 @node Thread groups
25661 @subsection Thread groups
25662 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
25663 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
25664 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
25665 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
25666 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
25667
25668 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
25669 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
25670 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
25671 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
25672 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
25673 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
25674 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
25675 into processes.
25676
25677 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
25678 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
25679 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
25680 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
25681 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
25682 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
25683 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
25684 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
25685 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
25686 the members of specific thread group.
25687
25688 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
25689 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
25690 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
25691 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
25692 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
25693 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
25694 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
25695 after attaching to that thread group.
25696
25697 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
25698 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
25699 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
25700 such thread groups.
25701
25702 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25703 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
25704 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
25705
25706 @menu
25707 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
25708 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
25709 @end menu
25710
25711 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
25712 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
25713
25714 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
25715 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
25716 @table @code
25717 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
25718 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
25719
25720 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
25721 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
25722 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
25723
25724 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
25725 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
25726 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
25727
25728 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
25729 "any sequence of digits"
25730
25731 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
25732 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
25733
25734 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
25735 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
25736
25737 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
25738 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
25739
25740 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
25741 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
25742 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
25743
25744 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
25745 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
25746
25747 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
25748 @code{CR | CR-LF}
25749 @end table
25750
25751 @noindent
25752 Notes:
25753
25754 @itemize @bullet
25755 @item
25756 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
25757 output is described below.
25758
25759 @item
25760 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
25761 finishes.
25762
25763 @item
25764 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
25765 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
25766 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
25767 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
25768 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
25769 @end itemize
25770
25771 Pragmatics:
25772
25773 @itemize @bullet
25774 @item
25775 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
25776
25777 @item
25778 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
25779 @end itemize
25780
25781 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
25782 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
25783
25784 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
25785 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
25786 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
25787 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
25788 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
25789 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
25790
25791 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
25792 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
25793 @var{token}.
25794
25795 @table @code
25796 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
25797 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
25798
25799 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
25800 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
25801
25802 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
25803 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
25804
25805 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
25806 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
25807
25808 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
25809 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
25810
25811 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
25812 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
25813
25814 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
25815 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
25816
25817 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
25818 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
25819
25820 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
25821 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
25822
25823 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
25824 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
25825 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
25826
25827 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
25828 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
25829
25830 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
25831 @code{ @var{string} }
25832
25833 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
25834 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
25835
25836 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
25837 @code{@var{c-string}}
25838
25839 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
25840 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
25841
25842 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
25843 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
25844 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
25845
25846 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
25847 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
25848
25849 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
25850 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
25851
25852 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
25853 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
25854
25855 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
25856 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
25857
25858 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
25859 @code{CR | CR-LF}
25860
25861 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
25862 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
25863 @end table
25864
25865 @noindent
25866 Notes:
25867
25868 @itemize @bullet
25869 @item
25870 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
25871
25872 @item
25873 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
25874 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
25875 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
25876 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
25877 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
25878 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
25879 prior command.
25880
25881 @item
25882 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25883 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
25884 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
25885 prefixed by @samp{+}.
25886
25887 @item
25888 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25889 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
25890 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
25891 @samp{*}.
25892
25893 @item
25894 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25895 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
25896 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
25897 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
25898
25899 @item
25900 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25901 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
25902 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
25903 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
25904
25905 @item
25906 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25907 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
25908 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
25909
25910 @item
25911 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25912 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
25913 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
25914 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
25915
25916 @item
25917 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25918 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
25919 @var{values}.
25920
25921
25922 @end itemize
25923
25924 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
25925 details about the various output records.
25926
25927 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25928 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
25929 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
25930
25931 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
25932 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
25933
25934 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
25935 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
25936 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
25937 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
25938 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
25939 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
25940
25941 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
25942 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
25943 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
25944
25945 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25946 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
25947 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
25948 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
25949
25950 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
25951 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
25952
25953 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
25954 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
25955 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
25956 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
25957 might change.
25958
25959 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
25960 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
25961 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
25962 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
25963
25964 @itemize @bullet
25965 @item
25966 New MI commands may be added.
25967
25968 @item
25969 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
25970
25971 @item
25972 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
25973 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
25974
25975 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
25976 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
25977
25978 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
25979 @c resolve inconsistencies.
25980 @end itemize
25981
25982 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
25983 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
25984 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
25985 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
25986 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
25987
25988 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
25989 @c version?
25990
25991 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
25992 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
25993 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
25994 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
25995 @cindex mailing lists
25996
25997 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25998 @node GDB/MI Output Records
25999 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
26000
26001 @menu
26002 * GDB/MI Result Records::
26003 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
26004 * GDB/MI Async Records::
26005 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
26006 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
26007 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
26008 @end menu
26009
26010 @node GDB/MI Result Records
26011 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
26012
26013 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26014 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
26015 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
26016 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
26017
26018 @table @code
26019 @findex ^done
26020 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
26021 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
26022 values.
26023
26024 @item "^running"
26025 @findex ^running
26026 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
26027 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
26028 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
26029 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
26030 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
26031 which threads are resumed.
26032
26033 @item "^connected"
26034 @findex ^connected
26035 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
26036
26037 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
26038 @findex ^error
26039 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
26040 error message.
26041
26042 @item "^exit"
26043 @findex ^exit
26044 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
26045
26046 @end table
26047
26048 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
26049 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
26050
26051 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
26052 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26053 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
26054 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
26055 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
26056
26057 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
26058 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
26059 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
26060 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
26061 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
26062
26063 @table @code
26064 @item "~" @var{string-output}
26065 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
26066 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
26067
26068 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
26069 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
26070 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
26071 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
26072
26073 @item "&" @var{string-output}
26074 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
26075 internals.
26076 @end table
26077
26078 @node GDB/MI Async Records
26079 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
26080
26081 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26082 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
26083 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
26084 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
26085 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
26086 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
26087
26088 The following is the list of possible async records:
26089
26090 @table @code
26091
26092 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
26093 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
26094 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
26095 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
26096 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
26097 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
26098 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
26099 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
26100 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
26101 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
26102
26103 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
26104 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
26105 following values:
26106
26107 @table @code
26108 @item breakpoint-hit
26109 A breakpoint was reached.
26110 @item watchpoint-trigger
26111 A watchpoint was triggered.
26112 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
26113 A read watchpoint was triggered.
26114 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
26115 An access watchpoint was triggered.
26116 @item function-finished
26117 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26118 @item location-reached
26119 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26120 @item watchpoint-scope
26121 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
26122 @item end-stepping-range
26123 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
26124 similar CLI command was accomplished.
26125 @item exited-signalled
26126 The inferior exited because of a signal.
26127 @item exited
26128 The inferior exited.
26129 @item exited-normally
26130 The inferior exited normally.
26131 @item signal-received
26132 A signal was received by the inferior.
26133 @end table
26134
26135 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
26136 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
26137 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
26138 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
26139 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
26140 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
26141 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
26142 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
26143 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
26144 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
26145 if such information is not available.
26146
26147 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
26148 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
26149 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
26150 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
26151 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
26152 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
26153 cannot be used in any way.
26154
26155 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
26156 A thread group became associated with a running program,
26157 either because the program was just started or the thread group
26158 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
26159 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
26160 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
26161
26162 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
26163 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
26164 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
26165 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
26166 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
26167 only when the inferior exited with some code.
26168
26169 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26170 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26171 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
26172 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
26173 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
26174
26175 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
26176 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
26177 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
26178 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
26179 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
26180 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
26181 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
26182
26183 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
26184 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
26185 that thread.
26186
26187 @item =library-loaded,...
26188 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
26189 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
26190 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
26191 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
26192 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
26193 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
26194 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
26195 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
26196 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
26197 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
26198 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
26199 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
26200 thread groups.
26201
26202 @item =library-unloaded,...
26203 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
26204 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
26205 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
26206 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
26207 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
26208 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
26209 thread groups.
26210
26211 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
26212 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
26213 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,bkpt=@{...@}
26214 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
26215 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
26216 user.
26217
26218 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
26219 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}.
26220
26221 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
26222 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
26223
26224 @end table
26225
26226 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
26227 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
26228
26229 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
26230 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
26231 fields:
26232
26233 @table @code
26234 @item level
26235 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
26236 zero. This field is always present.
26237
26238 @item func
26239 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
26240 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
26241
26242 @item addr
26243 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
26244
26245 @item file
26246 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
26247 address. This field may be absent.
26248
26249 @item line
26250 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
26251 may be absent.
26252
26253 @item from
26254 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
26255 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
26256
26257 @end table
26258
26259 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
26260 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
26261
26262 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
26263 uses a tuple with the following fields:
26264
26265 @table @code
26266 @item id
26267 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
26268 always present.
26269
26270 @item target-id
26271 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
26272
26273 @item details
26274 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
26275 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
26276 frontend. This field is optional.
26277
26278 @item state
26279 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
26280 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
26281
26282 @item core
26283 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
26284 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
26285 @end table
26286
26287 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
26288 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
26289
26290 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
26291 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
26292 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
26293 the @code{exception-name} field.
26294
26295 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26296 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
26297 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
26298 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
26299
26300 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
26301 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
26302 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
26303 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
26304
26305 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
26306 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
26307
26308 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
26309
26310 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
26311 information of the breakpoint.
26312
26313 @smallexample
26314 -> -break-insert main
26315 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26316 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26317 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
26318 <- (gdb)
26319 @end smallexample
26320
26321 @subheading Program Execution
26322
26323 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
26324 reason that execution stopped.
26325
26326 @smallexample
26327 -> -exec-run
26328 <- ^running
26329 <- (gdb)
26330 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
26331 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
26332 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
26333 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
26334 <- (gdb)
26335 -> -exec-continue
26336 <- ^running
26337 <- (gdb)
26338 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
26339 <- (gdb)
26340 @end smallexample
26341
26342 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
26343
26344 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
26345
26346 @smallexample
26347 -> (gdb)
26348 <- -gdb-exit
26349 <- ^exit
26350 @end smallexample
26351
26352 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
26353 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
26354 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
26355 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
26356 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
26357 fails to exit in reasonable time.
26358
26359 @subheading A Bad Command
26360
26361 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
26362
26363 @smallexample
26364 -> -rubbish
26365 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
26366 <- (gdb)
26367 @end smallexample
26368
26369
26370 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26371 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
26372 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
26373
26374 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
26375 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
26376
26377 @subheading Motivation
26378
26379 The motivation for this collection of commands.
26380
26381 @subheading Introduction
26382
26383 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
26384
26385 @subheading Commands
26386
26387 For each command in the block, the following is described:
26388
26389 @subsubheading Synopsis
26390
26391 @smallexample
26392 -command @var{args}@dots{}
26393 @end smallexample
26394
26395 @subsubheading Result
26396
26397 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26398
26399 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
26400
26401 @subsubheading Example
26402
26403 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
26404 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
26405
26406
26407 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26408 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
26409 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
26410
26411 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
26412 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
26413 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
26414 breakpoints.
26415
26416 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
26417 @findex -break-after
26418
26419 @subsubheading Synopsis
26420
26421 @smallexample
26422 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
26423 @end smallexample
26424
26425 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
26426 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
26427 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
26428 @samp{-break-list} command below.
26429
26430 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26431
26432 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
26433
26434 @subsubheading Example
26435
26436 @smallexample
26437 (gdb)
26438 -break-insert main
26439 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26440 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26441 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
26442 (gdb)
26443 -break-after 1 3
26444 ~
26445 ^done
26446 (gdb)
26447 -break-list
26448 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26449 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26450 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26451 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26452 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26453 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26454 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26455 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26456 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26457 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26458 (gdb)
26459 @end smallexample
26460
26461 @ignore
26462 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
26463 @findex -break-catch
26464 @end ignore
26465
26466 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
26467 @findex -break-commands
26468
26469 @subsubheading Synopsis
26470
26471 @smallexample
26472 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
26473 @end smallexample
26474
26475 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
26476 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
26477 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
26478 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
26479 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
26480 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
26481
26482 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26483
26484 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
26485
26486 @subsubheading Example
26487
26488 @smallexample
26489 (gdb)
26490 -break-insert main
26491 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26492 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26493 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
26494 (gdb)
26495 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
26496 ^done
26497 (gdb)
26498 @end smallexample
26499
26500 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
26501 @findex -break-condition
26502
26503 @subsubheading Synopsis
26504
26505 @smallexample
26506 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
26507 @end smallexample
26508
26509 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
26510 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
26511 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
26512 command below).
26513
26514 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26515
26516 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
26517
26518 @subsubheading Example
26519
26520 @smallexample
26521 (gdb)
26522 -break-condition 1 1
26523 ^done
26524 (gdb)
26525 -break-list
26526 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26527 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26528 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26529 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26530 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26531 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26532 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26533 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26534 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26535 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26536 (gdb)
26537 @end smallexample
26538
26539 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
26540 @findex -break-delete
26541
26542 @subsubheading Synopsis
26543
26544 @smallexample
26545 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26546 @end smallexample
26547
26548 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
26549 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
26550
26551 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26552
26553 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
26554
26555 @subsubheading Example
26556
26557 @smallexample
26558 (gdb)
26559 -break-delete 1
26560 ^done
26561 (gdb)
26562 -break-list
26563 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
26564 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26565 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26566 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26567 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26568 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26569 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26570 body=[]@}
26571 (gdb)
26572 @end smallexample
26573
26574 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
26575 @findex -break-disable
26576
26577 @subsubheading Synopsis
26578
26579 @smallexample
26580 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26581 @end smallexample
26582
26583 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
26584 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
26585
26586 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26587
26588 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
26589
26590 @subsubheading Example
26591
26592 @smallexample
26593 (gdb)
26594 -break-disable 2
26595 ^done
26596 (gdb)
26597 -break-list
26598 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26599 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26600 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26601 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26602 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26603 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26604 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26605 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
26606 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26607 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
26608 (gdb)
26609 @end smallexample
26610
26611 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
26612 @findex -break-enable
26613
26614 @subsubheading Synopsis
26615
26616 @smallexample
26617 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26618 @end smallexample
26619
26620 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
26621
26622 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26623
26624 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
26625
26626 @subsubheading Example
26627
26628 @smallexample
26629 (gdb)
26630 -break-enable 2
26631 ^done
26632 (gdb)
26633 -break-list
26634 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26635 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26636 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26637 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26638 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26639 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26640 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26641 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26642 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26643 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
26644 (gdb)
26645 @end smallexample
26646
26647 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
26648 @findex -break-info
26649
26650 @subsubheading Synopsis
26651
26652 @smallexample
26653 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
26654 @end smallexample
26655
26656 @c REDUNDANT???
26657 Get information about a single breakpoint.
26658
26659 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26660
26661 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
26662
26663 @subsubheading Example
26664 N.A.
26665
26666 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
26667 @findex -break-insert
26668
26669 @subsubheading Synopsis
26670
26671 @smallexample
26672 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
26673 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
26674 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
26675 @end smallexample
26676
26677 @noindent
26678 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
26679
26680 @itemize @bullet
26681 @item function
26682 @c @item +offset
26683 @c @item -offset
26684 @c @item linenum
26685 @item filename:linenum
26686 @item filename:function
26687 @item *address
26688 @end itemize
26689
26690 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
26691
26692 @table @samp
26693 @item -t
26694 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
26695 @item -h
26696 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
26697 @item -c @var{condition}
26698 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
26699 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
26700 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
26701 @item -f
26702 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
26703 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
26704 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
26705 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
26706 cannot be parsed.
26707 @item -d
26708 Create a disabled breakpoint.
26709 @item -a
26710 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
26711 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
26712 @end table
26713
26714 @subsubheading Result
26715
26716 The result is in the form:
26717
26718 @smallexample
26719 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
26720 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
26721 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
26722 times="@var{times}"@}
26723 @end smallexample
26724
26725 @noindent
26726 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
26727 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
26728 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
26729 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
26730 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
26731 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
26732 which use the same output).
26733
26734 Note: this format is open to change.
26735 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
26736
26737 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26738
26739 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
26740 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
26741
26742 @subsubheading Example
26743
26744 @smallexample
26745 (gdb)
26746 -break-insert main
26747 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
26748 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
26749 (gdb)
26750 -break-insert -t foo
26751 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
26752 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
26753 (gdb)
26754 -break-list
26755 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26756 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26757 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26758 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26759 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26760 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26761 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26762 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26763 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
26764 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
26765 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
26766 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
26767 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
26768 (gdb)
26769 -break-insert -r foo.*
26770 ~int foo(int, int);
26771 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
26772 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
26773 (gdb)
26774 @end smallexample
26775
26776 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
26777 @findex -break-list
26778
26779 @subsubheading Synopsis
26780
26781 @smallexample
26782 -break-list
26783 @end smallexample
26784
26785 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
26786
26787 @table @samp
26788 @item Number
26789 number of the breakpoint
26790 @item Type
26791 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
26792 @item Disposition
26793 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
26794 or @samp{nokeep}
26795 @item Enabled
26796 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
26797 @item Address
26798 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
26799 @item What
26800 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
26801 name, line number
26802 @item Times
26803 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
26804 @end table
26805
26806 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
26807 @code{body} field is an empty list.
26808
26809 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26810
26811 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
26812
26813 @subsubheading Example
26814
26815 @smallexample
26816 (gdb)
26817 -break-list
26818 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26819 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26820 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26821 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26822 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26823 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26824 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26825 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26826 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
26827 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26828 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26829 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
26830 (gdb)
26831 @end smallexample
26832
26833 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
26834
26835 @smallexample
26836 (gdb)
26837 -break-list
26838 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
26839 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26840 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26841 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26842 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26843 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26844 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26845 body=[]@}
26846 (gdb)
26847 @end smallexample
26848
26849 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
26850 @findex -break-passcount
26851
26852 @subsubheading Synopsis
26853
26854 @smallexample
26855 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
26856 @end smallexample
26857
26858 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
26859 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
26860 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
26861 command @samp{passcount}.
26862
26863 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
26864 @findex -break-watch
26865
26866 @subsubheading Synopsis
26867
26868 @smallexample
26869 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
26870 @end smallexample
26871
26872 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
26873 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
26874 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
26875 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
26876 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
26877 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
26878 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
26879 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
26880
26881 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
26882 breakpoints inserted.
26883
26884 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26885
26886 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
26887 @samp{rwatch}.
26888
26889 @subsubheading Example
26890
26891 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
26892
26893 @smallexample
26894 (gdb)
26895 -break-watch x
26896 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
26897 (gdb)
26898 -exec-continue
26899 ^running
26900 (gdb)
26901 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
26902 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
26903 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
26904 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
26905 (gdb)
26906 @end smallexample
26907
26908 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
26909 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
26910 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
26911
26912 @smallexample
26913 (gdb)
26914 -break-watch C
26915 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
26916 (gdb)
26917 -exec-continue
26918 ^running
26919 (gdb)
26920 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
26921 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
26922 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
26923 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26924 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
26925 (gdb)
26926 -exec-continue
26927 ^running
26928 (gdb)
26929 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
26930 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
26931 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
26932 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26933 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
26934 (gdb)
26935 @end smallexample
26936
26937 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
26938 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
26939 deleted.
26940
26941 @smallexample
26942 (gdb)
26943 -break-watch C
26944 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
26945 (gdb)
26946 -break-list
26947 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26948 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26949 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26950 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26951 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26952 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26953 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26954 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26955 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
26956 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26957 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
26958 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
26959 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
26960 (gdb)
26961 -exec-continue
26962 ^running
26963 (gdb)
26964 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
26965 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
26966 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
26967 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26968 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
26969 (gdb)
26970 -break-list
26971 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26972 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26973 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26974 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26975 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26976 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26977 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26978 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26979 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
26980 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26981 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
26982 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
26983 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
26984 (gdb)
26985 -exec-continue
26986 ^running
26987 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
26988 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
26989 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
26990 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26991 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
26992 (gdb)
26993 -break-list
26994 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26995 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26996 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26997 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26998 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26999 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27000 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27001 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27002 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27003 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27004 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
27005 times="1"@}]@}
27006 (gdb)
27007 @end smallexample
27008
27009 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27010 @node GDB/MI Program Context
27011 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
27012
27013 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
27014 @findex -exec-arguments
27015
27016
27017 @subsubheading Synopsis
27018
27019 @smallexample
27020 -exec-arguments @var{args}
27021 @end smallexample
27022
27023 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
27024 @samp{-exec-run}.
27025
27026 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27027
27028 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
27029
27030 @subsubheading Example
27031
27032 @smallexample
27033 (gdb)
27034 -exec-arguments -v word
27035 ^done
27036 (gdb)
27037 @end smallexample
27038
27039
27040 @ignore
27041 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
27042 @findex -exec-show-arguments
27043
27044 @subsubheading Synopsis
27045
27046 @smallexample
27047 -exec-show-arguments
27048 @end smallexample
27049
27050 Print the arguments of the program.
27051
27052 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27053
27054 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
27055
27056 @subsubheading Example
27057 N.A.
27058 @end ignore
27059
27060
27061 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
27062 @findex -environment-cd
27063
27064 @subsubheading Synopsis
27065
27066 @smallexample
27067 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
27068 @end smallexample
27069
27070 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
27071
27072 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27073
27074 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
27075
27076 @subsubheading Example
27077
27078 @smallexample
27079 (gdb)
27080 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27081 ^done
27082 (gdb)
27083 @end smallexample
27084
27085
27086 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
27087 @findex -environment-directory
27088
27089 @subsubheading Synopsis
27090
27091 @smallexample
27092 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27093 @end smallexample
27094
27095 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
27096 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
27097 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
27098 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27099 occurs as normal.
27100 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27101 multiple directories in a single command
27102 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27103 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27104 If blanks are needed as
27105 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27106 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27107 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27108 character must not be used
27109 in any directory name.
27110 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
27111
27112 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27113
27114 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
27115
27116 @subsubheading Example
27117
27118 @smallexample
27119 (gdb)
27120 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27121 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27122 (gdb)
27123 -environment-directory ""
27124 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27125 (gdb)
27126 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
27127 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
27128 (gdb)
27129 -environment-directory -r
27130 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
27131 (gdb)
27132 @end smallexample
27133
27134
27135 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
27136 @findex -environment-path
27137
27138 @subsubheading Synopsis
27139
27140 @smallexample
27141 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27142 @end smallexample
27143
27144 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
27145 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
27146 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
27147 supplied in addition to the
27148 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27149 occurs as normal.
27150 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27151 multiple directories in a single command
27152 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27153 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27154 If blanks are needed as
27155 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27156 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27157 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27158 character must not be used
27159 in any directory name.
27160 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
27161
27162
27163 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27164
27165 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
27166
27167 @subsubheading Example
27168
27169 @smallexample
27170 (gdb)
27171 -environment-path
27172 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
27173 (gdb)
27174 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
27175 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
27176 (gdb)
27177 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
27178 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
27179 (gdb)
27180 @end smallexample
27181
27182
27183 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
27184 @findex -environment-pwd
27185
27186 @subsubheading Synopsis
27187
27188 @smallexample
27189 -environment-pwd
27190 @end smallexample
27191
27192 Show the current working directory.
27193
27194 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27195
27196 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
27197
27198 @subsubheading Example
27199
27200 @smallexample
27201 (gdb)
27202 -environment-pwd
27203 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
27204 (gdb)
27205 @end smallexample
27206
27207 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27208 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
27209 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
27210
27211
27212 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
27213 @findex -thread-info
27214
27215 @subsubheading Synopsis
27216
27217 @smallexample
27218 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
27219 @end smallexample
27220
27221 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
27222 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
27223 threads. When printing information about all threads,
27224 also reports the current thread.
27225
27226 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27227
27228 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
27229 about all threads.
27230
27231 @subsubheading Result
27232
27233 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
27234 defined for a given thread:
27235
27236 @table @samp
27237 @item current
27238 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27239
27240 @item id
27241 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
27242
27243 @item target-id
27244 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
27245
27246 @item details
27247 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
27248 field is optional.
27249
27250 @item name
27251 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
27252 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
27253 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
27254 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
27255 field is omitted.
27256
27257 @item frame
27258 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
27259
27260 @item state
27261 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
27262 values:
27263
27264 @table @code
27265 @item stopped
27266 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
27267 threads.
27268
27269 @item running
27270 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
27271 threads.
27272
27273 @end table
27274
27275 @item core
27276 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
27277 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
27278
27279 @end table
27280
27281 @subsubheading Example
27282
27283 @smallexample
27284 -thread-info
27285 ^done,threads=[
27286 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
27287 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
27288 args=[]@},state="running"@},
27289 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
27290 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
27291 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
27292 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
27293 state="running"@}],
27294 current-thread-id="1"
27295 (gdb)
27296 @end smallexample
27297
27298 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
27299 @findex -thread-list-ids
27300
27301 @subsubheading Synopsis
27302
27303 @smallexample
27304 -thread-list-ids
27305 @end smallexample
27306
27307 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
27308 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
27309
27310 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
27311 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
27312
27313 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27314
27315 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
27316
27317 @subsubheading Example
27318
27319 @smallexample
27320 (gdb)
27321 -thread-list-ids
27322 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27323 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
27324 (gdb)
27325 @end smallexample
27326
27327
27328 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
27329 @findex -thread-select
27330
27331 @subsubheading Synopsis
27332
27333 @smallexample
27334 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
27335 @end smallexample
27336
27337 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
27338 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
27339
27340 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
27341 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
27342
27343 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27344
27345 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
27346
27347 @subsubheading Example
27348
27349 @smallexample
27350 (gdb)
27351 -exec-next
27352 ^running
27353 (gdb)
27354 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
27355 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
27356 (gdb)
27357 -thread-list-ids
27358 ^done,
27359 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27360 number-of-threads="3"
27361 (gdb)
27362 -thread-select 3
27363 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
27364 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
27365 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
27366 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
27367 (gdb)
27368 @end smallexample
27369
27370 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27371 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
27372 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
27373
27374 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
27375 @findex -ada-task-info
27376
27377 @subsubheading Synopsis
27378
27379 @smallexample
27380 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
27381 @end smallexample
27382
27383 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
27384 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
27385
27386 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27387
27388 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
27389 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
27390
27391 @subsubheading Result
27392
27393 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
27394 defined for each Ada task:
27395
27396 @table @samp
27397 @item current
27398 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27399
27400 @item id
27401 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
27402
27403 @item task-id
27404 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
27405
27406 @item thread-id
27407 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
27408
27409 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
27410 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
27411 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
27412
27413 @item parent-id
27414 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
27415 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
27416
27417 @item priority
27418 The base priority of the task.
27419
27420 @item state
27421 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
27422 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
27423
27424 @item name
27425 The name of the task.
27426
27427 @end table
27428
27429 @subsubheading Example
27430
27431 @smallexample
27432 -ada-task-info
27433 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
27434 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
27435 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
27436 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
27437 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
27438 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
27439 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
27440 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
27441 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
27442 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
27443 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
27444 (gdb)
27445 @end smallexample
27446
27447 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27448 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
27449 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
27450
27451 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
27452 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
27453 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
27454 other cases.
27455
27456 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
27457 @findex -exec-continue
27458
27459 @subsubheading Synopsis
27460
27461 @smallexample
27462 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
27463 @end smallexample
27464
27465 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
27466 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
27467 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
27468 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
27469 @itemize @bullet
27470 @item
27471 breakpoints or watchpoints
27472 @item
27473 signals or exceptions
27474 @item
27475 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
27476 @item
27477 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
27478 @end itemize
27479 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
27480 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
27481 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
27482 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
27483 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
27484 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
27485
27486 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27487
27488 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
27489
27490 @subsubheading Example
27491
27492 @smallexample
27493 -exec-continue
27494 ^running
27495 (gdb)
27496 @@Hello world
27497 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
27498 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
27499 line="13"@}
27500 (gdb)
27501 @end smallexample
27502
27503
27504 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
27505 @findex -exec-finish
27506
27507 @subsubheading Synopsis
27508
27509 @smallexample
27510 -exec-finish [--reverse]
27511 @end smallexample
27512
27513 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
27514 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
27515 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
27516 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
27517 function was called.
27518
27519 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27520
27521 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
27522
27523 @subsubheading Example
27524
27525 Function returning @code{void}.
27526
27527 @smallexample
27528 -exec-finish
27529 ^running
27530 (gdb)
27531 @@hello from foo
27532 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
27533 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
27534 (gdb)
27535 @end smallexample
27536
27537 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
27538 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
27539 value itself.
27540
27541 @smallexample
27542 -exec-finish
27543 ^running
27544 (gdb)
27545 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
27546 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
27547 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27548 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
27549 (gdb)
27550 @end smallexample
27551
27552
27553 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
27554 @findex -exec-interrupt
27555
27556 @subsubheading Synopsis
27557
27558 @smallexample
27559 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
27560 @end smallexample
27561
27562 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
27563 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
27564 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
27565 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
27566 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
27567
27568 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
27569 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
27570 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
27571 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
27572
27573 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
27574 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
27575 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
27576 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
27577
27578 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27579
27580 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
27581
27582 @subsubheading Example
27583
27584 @smallexample
27585 (gdb)
27586 111-exec-continue
27587 111^running
27588
27589 (gdb)
27590 222-exec-interrupt
27591 222^done
27592 (gdb)
27593 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
27594 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
27595 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
27596 (gdb)
27597
27598 (gdb)
27599 -exec-interrupt
27600 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
27601 (gdb)
27602 @end smallexample
27603
27604 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
27605 @findex -exec-jump
27606
27607 @subsubheading Synopsis
27608
27609 @smallexample
27610 -exec-jump @var{location}
27611 @end smallexample
27612
27613 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
27614 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
27615 different forms of @var{location}.
27616
27617 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27618
27619 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
27620
27621 @subsubheading Example
27622
27623 @smallexample
27624 -exec-jump foo.c:10
27625 *running,thread-id="all"
27626 ^running
27627 @end smallexample
27628
27629
27630 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
27631 @findex -exec-next
27632
27633 @subsubheading Synopsis
27634
27635 @smallexample
27636 -exec-next [--reverse]
27637 @end smallexample
27638
27639 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
27640 of the next source line is reached.
27641
27642 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
27643 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
27644 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
27645 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
27646 source line where the function was called.
27647
27648
27649 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27650
27651 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
27652
27653 @subsubheading Example
27654
27655 @smallexample
27656 -exec-next
27657 ^running
27658 (gdb)
27659 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
27660 (gdb)
27661 @end smallexample
27662
27663
27664 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
27665 @findex -exec-next-instruction
27666
27667 @subsubheading Synopsis
27668
27669 @smallexample
27670 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
27671 @end smallexample
27672
27673 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
27674 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
27675 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
27676 printed as well.
27677
27678 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
27679 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
27680 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
27681 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
27682 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
27683
27684 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27685
27686 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
27687
27688 @subsubheading Example
27689
27690 @smallexample
27691 (gdb)
27692 -exec-next-instruction
27693 ^running
27694
27695 (gdb)
27696 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27697 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
27698 (gdb)
27699 @end smallexample
27700
27701
27702 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
27703 @findex -exec-return
27704
27705 @subsubheading Synopsis
27706
27707 @smallexample
27708 -exec-return
27709 @end smallexample
27710
27711 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
27712 Displays the new current frame.
27713
27714 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27715
27716 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
27717
27718 @subsubheading Example
27719
27720 @smallexample
27721 (gdb)
27722 200-break-insert callee4
27723 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
27724 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
27725 (gdb)
27726 000-exec-run
27727 000^running
27728 (gdb)
27729 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
27730 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27731 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27732 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
27733 (gdb)
27734 205-break-delete
27735 205^done
27736 (gdb)
27737 111-exec-return
27738 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
27739 args=[@{name="strarg",
27740 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27741 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27742 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27743 (gdb)
27744 @end smallexample
27745
27746
27747 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
27748 @findex -exec-run
27749
27750 @subsubheading Synopsis
27751
27752 @smallexample
27753 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
27754 @end smallexample
27755
27756 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
27757 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
27758 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
27759 the program has exited exceptionally.
27760
27761 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
27762 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
27763 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
27764 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
27765
27766 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27767
27768 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
27769
27770 @subsubheading Examples
27771
27772 @smallexample
27773 (gdb)
27774 -break-insert main
27775 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
27776 (gdb)
27777 -exec-run
27778 ^running
27779 (gdb)
27780 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
27781 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
27782 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
27783 (gdb)
27784 @end smallexample
27785
27786 @noindent
27787 Program exited normally:
27788
27789 @smallexample
27790 (gdb)
27791 -exec-run
27792 ^running
27793 (gdb)
27794 x = 55
27795 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
27796 (gdb)
27797 @end smallexample
27798
27799 @noindent
27800 Program exited exceptionally:
27801
27802 @smallexample
27803 (gdb)
27804 -exec-run
27805 ^running
27806 (gdb)
27807 x = 55
27808 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
27809 (gdb)
27810 @end smallexample
27811
27812 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
27813 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
27814
27815 @smallexample
27816 (gdb)
27817 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
27818 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
27819 @end smallexample
27820
27821
27822 @c @subheading -exec-signal
27823
27824
27825 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
27826 @findex -exec-step
27827
27828 @subsubheading Synopsis
27829
27830 @smallexample
27831 -exec-step [--reverse]
27832 @end smallexample
27833
27834 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
27835 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
27836 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
27837 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
27838 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
27839 previously executed source line.
27840
27841 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27842
27843 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
27844
27845 @subsubheading Example
27846
27847 Stepping into a function:
27848
27849 @smallexample
27850 -exec-step
27851 ^running
27852 (gdb)
27853 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27854 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
27855 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
27856 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
27857 (gdb)
27858 @end smallexample
27859
27860 Regular stepping:
27861
27862 @smallexample
27863 -exec-step
27864 ^running
27865 (gdb)
27866 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
27867 (gdb)
27868 @end smallexample
27869
27870
27871 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
27872 @findex -exec-step-instruction
27873
27874 @subsubheading Synopsis
27875
27876 @smallexample
27877 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
27878 @end smallexample
27879
27880 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
27881 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
27882 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
27883 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
27884 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
27885 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
27886 as well.
27887
27888 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27889
27890 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
27891
27892 @subsubheading Example
27893
27894 @smallexample
27895 (gdb)
27896 -exec-step-instruction
27897 ^running
27898
27899 (gdb)
27900 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27901 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
27902 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
27903 (gdb)
27904 -exec-step-instruction
27905 ^running
27906
27907 (gdb)
27908 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27909 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
27910 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
27911 (gdb)
27912 @end smallexample
27913
27914
27915 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
27916 @findex -exec-until
27917
27918 @subsubheading Synopsis
27919
27920 @smallexample
27921 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
27922 @end smallexample
27923
27924 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
27925 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
27926 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
27927 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
27928
27929 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27930
27931 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
27932
27933 @subsubheading Example
27934
27935 @smallexample
27936 (gdb)
27937 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
27938 ^running
27939 (gdb)
27940 x = 55
27941 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
27942 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
27943 (gdb)
27944 @end smallexample
27945
27946 @ignore
27947 @subheading -file-clear
27948 Is this going away????
27949 @end ignore
27950
27951 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27952 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
27953 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
27954
27955
27956 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
27957 @findex -stack-info-frame
27958
27959 @subsubheading Synopsis
27960
27961 @smallexample
27962 -stack-info-frame
27963 @end smallexample
27964
27965 Get info on the selected frame.
27966
27967 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27968
27969 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
27970 (without arguments).
27971
27972 @subsubheading Example
27973
27974 @smallexample
27975 (gdb)
27976 -stack-info-frame
27977 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
27978 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27979 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
27980 (gdb)
27981 @end smallexample
27982
27983 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
27984 @findex -stack-info-depth
27985
27986 @subsubheading Synopsis
27987
27988 @smallexample
27989 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
27990 @end smallexample
27991
27992 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
27993 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
27994
27995 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27996
27997 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
27998
27999 @subsubheading Example
28000
28001 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
28002
28003 @smallexample
28004 (gdb)
28005 -stack-info-depth
28006 ^done,depth="12"
28007 (gdb)
28008 -stack-info-depth 4
28009 ^done,depth="4"
28010 (gdb)
28011 -stack-info-depth 12
28012 ^done,depth="12"
28013 (gdb)
28014 -stack-info-depth 11
28015 ^done,depth="11"
28016 (gdb)
28017 -stack-info-depth 13
28018 ^done,depth="12"
28019 (gdb)
28020 @end smallexample
28021
28022 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
28023 @findex -stack-list-arguments
28024
28025 @subsubheading Synopsis
28026
28027 @smallexample
28028 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
28029 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28030 @end smallexample
28031
28032 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
28033 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
28034 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
28035 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
28036 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
28037 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
28038 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
28039 which case only existing frames will be returned.
28040
28041 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28042 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28043 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28044 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28045 structures and unions.
28046
28047 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
28048 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28049
28050 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28051
28052 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
28053 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
28054 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
28055
28056 @subsubheading Example
28057
28058 @smallexample
28059 (gdb)
28060 -stack-list-frames
28061 ^done,
28062 stack=[
28063 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28064 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28065 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
28066 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28067 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28068 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
28069 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
28070 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28071 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
28072 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
28073 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28074 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
28075 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
28076 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28077 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
28078 (gdb)
28079 -stack-list-arguments 0
28080 ^done,
28081 stack-args=[
28082 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28083 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
28084 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
28085 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
28086 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28087 (gdb)
28088 -stack-list-arguments 1
28089 ^done,
28090 stack-args=[
28091 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28092 frame=@{level="1",
28093 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28094 frame=@{level="2",args=[
28095 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28096 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28097 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
28098 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28099 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
28100 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
28101 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28102 (gdb)
28103 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
28104 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
28105 (gdb)
28106 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
28107 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
28108 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28109 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
28110 (gdb)
28111 @end smallexample
28112
28113 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
28114
28115
28116 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
28117 @findex -stack-list-frames
28118
28119 @subsubheading Synopsis
28120
28121 @smallexample
28122 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28123 @end smallexample
28124
28125 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
28126 following info:
28127
28128 @table @samp
28129 @item @var{level}
28130 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
28131 @item @var{addr}
28132 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
28133 @item @var{func}
28134 Function name.
28135 @item @var{file}
28136 File name of the source file where the function lives.
28137 @item @var{fullname}
28138 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
28139 @item @var{line}
28140 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
28141 @item @var{from}
28142 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
28143 if the frame's function is not known.
28144 @end table
28145
28146 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
28147 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
28148 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
28149 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
28150 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
28151 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
28152 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
28153
28154 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28155
28156 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
28157
28158 @subsubheading Example
28159
28160 Full stack backtrace:
28161
28162 @smallexample
28163 (gdb)
28164 -stack-list-frames
28165 ^done,stack=
28166 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
28167 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
28168 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28169 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28170 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28171 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28172 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28173 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28174 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28175 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28176 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28177 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28178 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28179 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28180 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28181 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28182 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28183 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28184 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28185 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28186 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28187 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28188 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
28189 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
28190 (gdb)
28191 @end smallexample
28192
28193 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
28194
28195 @smallexample
28196 (gdb)
28197 -stack-list-frames 3 5
28198 ^done,stack=
28199 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28200 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28201 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28202 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28203 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28204 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28205 (gdb)
28206 @end smallexample
28207
28208 Show a single frame:
28209
28210 @smallexample
28211 (gdb)
28212 -stack-list-frames 3 3
28213 ^done,stack=
28214 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28215 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28216 (gdb)
28217 @end smallexample
28218
28219
28220 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
28221 @findex -stack-list-locals
28222
28223 @subsubheading Synopsis
28224
28225 @smallexample
28226 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
28227 @end smallexample
28228
28229 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
28230 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28231 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28232 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28233 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28234 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
28235 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
28236 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
28237 more detail.
28238
28239 This command is deprecated in favor of the
28240 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28241
28242 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28243
28244 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
28245
28246 @subsubheading Example
28247
28248 @smallexample
28249 (gdb)
28250 -stack-list-locals 0
28251 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
28252 (gdb)
28253 -stack-list-locals --all-values
28254 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
28255 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
28256 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
28257 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
28258 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
28259 (gdb)
28260 @end smallexample
28261
28262 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
28263 @findex -stack-list-variables
28264
28265 @subsubheading Synopsis
28266
28267 @smallexample
28268 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
28269 @end smallexample
28270
28271 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
28272 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28273 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28274 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28275 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28276 structures and unions.
28277
28278 @subsubheading Example
28279
28280 @smallexample
28281 (gdb)
28282 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
28283 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
28284 (gdb)
28285 @end smallexample
28286
28287
28288 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
28289 @findex -stack-select-frame
28290
28291 @subsubheading Synopsis
28292
28293 @smallexample
28294 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
28295 @end smallexample
28296
28297 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
28298 the stack.
28299
28300 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
28301 option to every command.
28302
28303 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28304
28305 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
28306 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
28307
28308 @subsubheading Example
28309
28310 @smallexample
28311 (gdb)
28312 -stack-select-frame 2
28313 ^done
28314 (gdb)
28315 @end smallexample
28316
28317 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28318 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
28319 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
28320
28321 @ignore
28322
28323 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28324
28325 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
28326 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
28327 used by @code{Insight}.
28328
28329 The two main reasons for that are:
28330
28331 @enumerate 1
28332 @item
28333 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
28334
28335 @item
28336 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
28337 now).
28338 @end enumerate
28339
28340 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
28341 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
28342 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
28343 hints about their use.
28344
28345 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
28346 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
28347 least, the following operations:
28348
28349 @itemize @bullet
28350 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
28351 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
28352 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
28353 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
28354 @end itemize
28355
28356 @end ignore
28357
28358 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
28359
28360 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28361
28362 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
28363 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
28364 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
28365 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
28366 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
28367 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
28368 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
28369 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
28370 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
28371 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
28372 object, or to change display format.
28373
28374 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
28375 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
28376 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
28377 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
28378 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
28379 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
28380 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
28381 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
28382 child will be created.
28383
28384 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
28385 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
28386 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
28387 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
28388 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
28389
28390 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
28391 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
28392 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
28393 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
28394 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
28395 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
28396 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
28397 variables that frontend has created.
28398
28399 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
28400 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
28401 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
28402 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
28403 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
28404 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
28405 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
28406 implicitly updated.
28407
28408 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
28409 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
28410 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
28411 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
28412 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
28413 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
28414 frame. Consider this example:
28415
28416 @smallexample
28417 void do_work(...)
28418 @{
28419 struct work_state state;
28420
28421 if (...)
28422 do_work(...);
28423 @}
28424 @end smallexample
28425
28426 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
28427 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
28428 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
28429 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
28430 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
28431
28432 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
28433 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
28434 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
28435 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
28436 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
28437 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
28438
28439 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
28440 access this functionality:
28441
28442 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
28443 @item @strong{Operation}
28444 @tab @strong{Description}
28445
28446 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
28447 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
28448 @item @code{-var-create}
28449 @tab create a variable object
28450 @item @code{-var-delete}
28451 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
28452 @item @code{-var-set-format}
28453 @tab set the display format of this variable
28454 @item @code{-var-show-format}
28455 @tab show the display format of this variable
28456 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
28457 @tab tells how many children this object has
28458 @item @code{-var-list-children}
28459 @tab return a list of the object's children
28460 @item @code{-var-info-type}
28461 @tab show the type of this variable object
28462 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
28463 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
28464 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
28465 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
28466 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
28467 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
28468 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
28469 @tab get the value of this variable
28470 @item @code{-var-assign}
28471 @tab set the value of this variable
28472 @item @code{-var-update}
28473 @tab update the variable and its children
28474 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
28475 @tab set frozeness attribute
28476 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
28477 @tab set range of children to display on update
28478 @end multitable
28479
28480 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
28481 how it can be used.
28482
28483 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
28484
28485 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
28486 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
28487
28488 @smallexample
28489 -enable-pretty-printing
28490 @end smallexample
28491
28492 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
28493 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
28494 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
28495 request that this functionality be enabled.
28496
28497 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
28498
28499 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
28500 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
28501
28502 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
28503 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
28504
28505 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
28506 @findex -var-create
28507
28508 @subsubheading Synopsis
28509
28510 @smallexample
28511 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
28512 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
28513 @end smallexample
28514
28515 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
28516 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
28517 register.
28518
28519 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
28520 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
28521 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
28522 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
28523 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
28524
28525 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
28526 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
28527 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
28528 object must be created.
28529
28530 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
28531 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
28532
28533 @itemize @bullet
28534 @item
28535 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
28536
28537 @item
28538 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
28539
28540 @item
28541 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
28542 @end itemize
28543
28544 @cindex dynamic varobj
28545 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
28546 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
28547 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
28548 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
28549 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
28550 compatibility for existing clients.
28551
28552 @subsubheading Result
28553
28554 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
28555 are:
28556
28557 @table @samp
28558 @item name
28559 The name of the varobj.
28560
28561 @item numchild
28562 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
28563 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
28564 @samp{has_more} attribute.
28565
28566 @item value
28567 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
28568 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
28569 will not be interesting.
28570
28571 @item type
28572 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
28573 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
28574
28575 @item thread-id
28576 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
28577 thread's identifier.
28578
28579 @item has_more
28580 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
28581 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
28582
28583 @item dynamic
28584 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
28585 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
28586 then this attribute will not be present.
28587
28588 @item displayhint
28589 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
28590 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
28591 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
28592 @end table
28593
28594 Typical output will look like this:
28595
28596 @smallexample
28597 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
28598 has_more="@var{has_more}"
28599 @end smallexample
28600
28601
28602 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
28603 @findex -var-delete
28604
28605 @subsubheading Synopsis
28606
28607 @smallexample
28608 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
28609 @end smallexample
28610
28611 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
28612 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
28613
28614 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
28615
28616
28617 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
28618 @findex -var-set-format
28619
28620 @subsubheading Synopsis
28621
28622 @smallexample
28623 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
28624 @end smallexample
28625
28626 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
28627 @var{format-spec}.
28628
28629 @anchor{-var-set-format}
28630 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
28631
28632 @smallexample
28633 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
28634 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
28635 @end smallexample
28636
28637 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
28638 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
28639 for pointers, etc.).
28640
28641 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
28642 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
28643
28644 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
28645 @findex -var-show-format
28646
28647 @subsubheading Synopsis
28648
28649 @smallexample
28650 -var-show-format @var{name}
28651 @end smallexample
28652
28653 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
28654
28655 @smallexample
28656 @var{format} @expansion{}
28657 @var{format-spec}
28658 @end smallexample
28659
28660
28661 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
28662 @findex -var-info-num-children
28663
28664 @subsubheading Synopsis
28665
28666 @smallexample
28667 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
28668 @end smallexample
28669
28670 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
28671
28672 @smallexample
28673 numchild=@var{n}
28674 @end smallexample
28675
28676 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
28677 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
28678 be available.
28679
28680
28681 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
28682 @findex -var-list-children
28683
28684 @subsubheading Synopsis
28685
28686 @smallexample
28687 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
28688 @end smallexample
28689 @anchor{-var-list-children}
28690
28691 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
28692 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
28693 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
28694 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
28695 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
28696 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
28697 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
28698 and unions.
28699
28700 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
28701 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
28702 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
28703 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
28704 reported.
28705
28706 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
28707 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
28708 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
28709 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
28710 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
28711 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
28712 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
28713 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
28714 the visible items.
28715
28716 For each child the following results are returned:
28717
28718 @table @var
28719
28720 @item name
28721 Name of the variable object created for this child.
28722
28723 @item exp
28724 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
28725 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
28726
28727 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
28728 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
28729
28730 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
28731 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
28732 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
28733 type and value are not present.
28734
28735 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
28736 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
28737 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
28738
28739 @item numchild
28740 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
28741 0.
28742
28743 @item type
28744 The type of the child.
28745
28746 @item value
28747 If values were requested, this is the value.
28748
28749 @item thread-id
28750 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
28751 Otherwise this result is not present.
28752
28753 @item frozen
28754 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
28755 @end table
28756
28757 The result may have its own attributes:
28758
28759 @table @samp
28760 @item displayhint
28761 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
28762 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
28763 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
28764
28765 @item has_more
28766 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
28767 remaining after the end of the selected range.
28768 @end table
28769
28770 @subsubheading Example
28771
28772 @smallexample
28773 (gdb)
28774 -var-list-children n
28775 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
28776 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
28777 (gdb)
28778 -var-list-children --all-values n
28779 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
28780 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
28781 @end smallexample
28782
28783
28784 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
28785 @findex -var-info-type
28786
28787 @subsubheading Synopsis
28788
28789 @smallexample
28790 -var-info-type @var{name}
28791 @end smallexample
28792
28793 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
28794 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
28795 @value{GDBN} CLI:
28796
28797 @smallexample
28798 type=@var{typename}
28799 @end smallexample
28800
28801
28802 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
28803 @findex -var-info-expression
28804
28805 @subsubheading Synopsis
28806
28807 @smallexample
28808 -var-info-expression @var{name}
28809 @end smallexample
28810
28811 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
28812 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
28813 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
28814
28815 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
28816 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
28817
28818 @smallexample
28819 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
28820 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
28821 @end smallexample
28822
28823 @noindent
28824 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
28825
28826 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
28827 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
28828 is of limited use.
28829
28830 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
28831 @findex -var-info-path-expression
28832
28833 @subsubheading Synopsis
28834
28835 @smallexample
28836 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
28837 @end smallexample
28838
28839 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
28840 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
28841 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
28842 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
28843 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
28844 watchpoint from a variable object.
28845
28846 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
28847 and will give an error when invoked on one.
28848
28849 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
28850 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
28851 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
28852 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
28853 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
28854 @smallexample
28855 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
28856 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
28857 @end smallexample
28858
28859 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
28860 @findex -var-show-attributes
28861
28862 @subsubheading Synopsis
28863
28864 @smallexample
28865 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
28866 @end smallexample
28867
28868 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
28869
28870 @smallexample
28871 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
28872 @end smallexample
28873
28874 @noindent
28875 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
28876
28877 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
28878 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
28879
28880 @subsubheading Synopsis
28881
28882 @smallexample
28883 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
28884 @end smallexample
28885
28886 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
28887 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
28888 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
28889 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
28890 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
28891 the current display format will be used. The current display format
28892 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
28893
28894 @smallexample
28895 value=@var{value}
28896 @end smallexample
28897
28898 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
28899 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
28900
28901 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
28902 @findex -var-assign
28903
28904 @subsubheading Synopsis
28905
28906 @smallexample
28907 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
28908 @end smallexample
28909
28910 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
28911 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
28912 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
28913 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
28914
28915 @subsubheading Example
28916
28917 @smallexample
28918 (gdb)
28919 -var-assign var1 3
28920 ^done,value="3"
28921 (gdb)
28922 -var-update *
28923 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
28924 (gdb)
28925 @end smallexample
28926
28927 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
28928 @findex -var-update
28929
28930 @subsubheading Synopsis
28931
28932 @smallexample
28933 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
28934 @end smallexample
28935
28936 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
28937 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
28938 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
28939 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
28940 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
28941 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
28942 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
28943 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
28944 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
28945 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
28946 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
28947 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
28948 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
28949
28950 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
28951 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
28952 diagnostic.
28953
28954 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
28955 only the selected range of children will be reported.
28956
28957 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
28958 @samp{changelist}.
28959
28960 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
28961
28962 @table @samp
28963 @item name
28964 The name of the varobj.
28965
28966 @item value
28967 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
28968 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
28969
28970 @item in_scope
28971 @anchor{-var-update}
28972 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
28973
28974 @table @code
28975 @item "true"
28976 The variable object's current value is valid.
28977
28978 @item "false"
28979 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
28980 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
28981 scope.
28982
28983 @item "invalid"
28984 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
28985 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
28986 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
28987 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
28988 objects.
28989 @end table
28990
28991 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
28992 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
28993
28994 @item type_changed
28995 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
28996 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
28997 be @samp{false}.
28998
28999 @item new_type
29000 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
29001 hold the new type.
29002
29003 @item new_num_children
29004 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
29005 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
29006
29007 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
29008 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
29009 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
29010 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
29011 children which may be available.
29012
29013 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
29014 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
29015 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
29016 only happen at the end of the update range).
29017
29018 @item displayhint
29019 The display hint, if any.
29020
29021 @item has_more
29022 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
29023 available outside the varobj's update range.
29024
29025 @item dynamic
29026 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29027 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29028 then this attribute will not be present.
29029
29030 @item new_children
29031 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
29032 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
29033 be listed in this attribute.
29034 @end table
29035
29036 @subsubheading Example
29037
29038 @smallexample
29039 (gdb)
29040 -var-assign var1 3
29041 ^done,value="3"
29042 (gdb)
29043 -var-update --all-values var1
29044 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
29045 type_changed="false"@}]
29046 (gdb)
29047 @end smallexample
29048
29049 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
29050 @findex -var-set-frozen
29051 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
29052
29053 @subsubheading Synopsis
29054
29055 @smallexample
29056 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
29057 @end smallexample
29058
29059 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
29060 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
29061 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
29062 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
29063 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
29064 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
29065 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
29066 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
29067 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
29068 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
29069 @code{-var-update} does.
29070
29071 @subsubheading Example
29072
29073 @smallexample
29074 (gdb)
29075 -var-set-frozen V 1
29076 ^done
29077 (gdb)
29078 @end smallexample
29079
29080 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
29081 @findex -var-set-update-range
29082 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
29083
29084 @subsubheading Synopsis
29085
29086 @smallexample
29087 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
29088 @end smallexample
29089
29090 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
29091 @code{-var-update}.
29092
29093 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
29094 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
29095 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
29096 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
29097
29098 @subsubheading Example
29099
29100 @smallexample
29101 (gdb)
29102 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
29103 ^done
29104 @end smallexample
29105
29106 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
29107 @findex -var-set-visualizer
29108 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
29109
29110 @subsubheading Synopsis
29111
29112 @smallexample
29113 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
29114 @end smallexample
29115
29116 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
29117
29118 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
29119 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
29120
29121 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
29122 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
29123 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
29124 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
29125 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
29126 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
29127 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
29128
29129 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
29130 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
29131 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
29132 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
29133
29134 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
29135 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
29136 can be used to check this.
29137
29138 @subsubheading Example
29139
29140 Resetting the visualizer:
29141
29142 @smallexample
29143 (gdb)
29144 -var-set-visualizer V None
29145 ^done
29146 @end smallexample
29147
29148 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
29149
29150 @smallexample
29151 (gdb)
29152 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
29153 ^done
29154 @end smallexample
29155
29156 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
29157 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
29158
29159 @smallexample
29160 (gdb)
29161 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
29162 ^done
29163 @end smallexample
29164
29165 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29166 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
29167 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
29168
29169 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
29170 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
29171 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
29172 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
29173
29174 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
29175 @c @subheading -data-assign
29176 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
29177 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
29178 @c set variable
29179 @c @subsubheading Example
29180 @c N.A.
29181
29182 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
29183 @findex -data-disassemble
29184
29185 @subsubheading Synopsis
29186
29187 @smallexample
29188 -data-disassemble
29189 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
29190 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
29191 -- @var{mode}
29192 @end smallexample
29193
29194 @noindent
29195 Where:
29196
29197 @table @samp
29198 @item @var{start-addr}
29199 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
29200 @item @var{end-addr}
29201 is the end address
29202 @item @var{filename}
29203 is the name of the file to disassemble
29204 @item @var{linenum}
29205 is the line number to disassemble around
29206 @item @var{lines}
29207 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
29208 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
29209 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
29210 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
29211 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
29212 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
29213 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
29214 are displayed.
29215 @item @var{mode}
29216 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
29217 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
29218 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
29219 @end table
29220
29221 @subsubheading Result
29222
29223 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
29224
29225 @itemize @bullet
29226 @item Address
29227 @item Func-name
29228 @item Offset
29229 @item Instruction
29230 @end itemize
29231
29232 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
29233 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
29234
29235 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29236
29237 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
29238
29239 @subsubheading Example
29240
29241 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
29242
29243 @smallexample
29244 (gdb)
29245 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
29246 ^done,
29247 asm_insns=[
29248 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29249 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29250 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29251 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29252 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
29253 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
29254 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
29255 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29256 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
29257 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
29258 (gdb)
29259 @end smallexample
29260
29261 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
29262 @code{main}.
29263
29264 @smallexample
29265 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
29266 ^done,asm_insns=[
29267 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29268 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29269 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29270 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29271 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29272 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29273 [@dots{}]
29274 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
29275 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
29276 (gdb)
29277 @end smallexample
29278
29279 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
29280
29281 @smallexample
29282 (gdb)
29283 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
29284 ^done,asm_insns=[
29285 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29286 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29287 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29288 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29289 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29290 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
29291 (gdb)
29292 @end smallexample
29293
29294 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
29295
29296 @smallexample
29297 (gdb)
29298 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
29299 ^done,asm_insns=[
29300 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
29301 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
29302 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
29303 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29304 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
29305 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
29306 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
29307 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
29308 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29309 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29310 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29311 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
29312 (gdb)
29313 @end smallexample
29314
29315
29316 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
29317 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
29318
29319 @subsubheading Synopsis
29320
29321 @smallexample
29322 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
29323 @end smallexample
29324
29325 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
29326 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
29327 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
29328
29329 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29330
29331 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
29332 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
29333 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
29334
29335 @subsubheading Example
29336
29337 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
29338 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
29339 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
29340 output.
29341
29342 @smallexample
29343 211-data-evaluate-expression A
29344 211^done,value="1"
29345 (gdb)
29346 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
29347 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
29348 (gdb)
29349 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
29350 411^done,value="4"
29351 (gdb)
29352 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
29353 511^done,value="4"
29354 (gdb)
29355 @end smallexample
29356
29357
29358 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
29359 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
29360
29361 @subsubheading Synopsis
29362
29363 @smallexample
29364 -data-list-changed-registers
29365 @end smallexample
29366
29367 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
29368
29369 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29370
29371 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
29372 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
29373
29374 @subsubheading Example
29375
29376 On a PPC MBX board:
29377
29378 @smallexample
29379 (gdb)
29380 -exec-continue
29381 ^running
29382
29383 (gdb)
29384 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
29385 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
29386 line="5"@}
29387 (gdb)
29388 -data-list-changed-registers
29389 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
29390 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
29391 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
29392 (gdb)
29393 @end smallexample
29394
29395
29396 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
29397 @findex -data-list-register-names
29398
29399 @subsubheading Synopsis
29400
29401 @smallexample
29402 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
29403 @end smallexample
29404
29405 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
29406 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
29407 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
29408 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
29409 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
29410 include empty register names.
29411
29412 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29413
29414 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
29415 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
29416 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
29417
29418 @subsubheading Example
29419
29420 For the PPC MBX board:
29421 @smallexample
29422 (gdb)
29423 -data-list-register-names
29424 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
29425 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
29426 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
29427 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
29428 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
29429 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
29430 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
29431 (gdb)
29432 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
29433 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
29434 (gdb)
29435 @end smallexample
29436
29437 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
29438 @findex -data-list-register-values
29439
29440 @subsubheading Synopsis
29441
29442 @smallexample
29443 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
29444 @end smallexample
29445
29446 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
29447 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
29448 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
29449 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
29450
29451 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
29452
29453 @table @code
29454 @item x
29455 Hexadecimal
29456 @item o
29457 Octal
29458 @item t
29459 Binary
29460 @item d
29461 Decimal
29462 @item r
29463 Raw
29464 @item N
29465 Natural
29466 @end table
29467
29468 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29469
29470 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
29471 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
29472
29473 @subsubheading Example
29474
29475 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
29476 don't appear in the actual output):
29477
29478 @smallexample
29479 (gdb)
29480 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
29481 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
29482 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
29483 (gdb)
29484 -data-list-register-values x
29485 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
29486 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
29487 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
29488 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
29489 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
29490 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
29491 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
29492 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
29493 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
29494 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
29495 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
29496 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
29497 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
29498 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
29499 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
29500 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
29501 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
29502 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
29503 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
29504 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
29505 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
29506 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
29507 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
29508 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
29509 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
29510 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
29511 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
29512 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
29513 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
29514 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
29515 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
29516 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
29517 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
29518 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
29519 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
29520 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
29521 (gdb)
29522 @end smallexample
29523
29524
29525 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
29526 @findex -data-read-memory
29527
29528 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
29529
29530 @subsubheading Synopsis
29531
29532 @smallexample
29533 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
29534 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
29535 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
29536 @end smallexample
29537
29538 @noindent
29539 where:
29540
29541 @table @samp
29542 @item @var{address}
29543 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29544 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29545 quoted using the C convention.
29546
29547 @item @var{word-format}
29548 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
29549 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
29550 ,Output Formats}).
29551
29552 @item @var{word-size}
29553 The size of each memory word in bytes.
29554
29555 @item @var{nr-rows}
29556 The number of rows in the output table.
29557
29558 @item @var{nr-cols}
29559 The number of columns in the output table.
29560
29561 @item @var{aschar}
29562 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
29563 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
29564 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
29565 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
29566
29567 @item @var{byte-offset}
29568 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
29569 @end table
29570
29571 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
29572 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
29573 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
29574 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
29575 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
29576 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
29577 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
29578 @samp{addr}.
29579
29580 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
29581 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
29582 @samp{prev-page}.
29583
29584 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29585
29586 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
29587 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
29588
29589 @subsubheading Example
29590
29591 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
29592 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
29593 word. Display each word in hex.
29594
29595 @smallexample
29596 (gdb)
29597 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
29598 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
29599 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
29600 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
29601 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
29602 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
29603 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
29604 (gdb)
29605 @end smallexample
29606
29607 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
29608 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
29609
29610 @smallexample
29611 (gdb)
29612 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
29613 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
29614 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
29615 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
29616 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
29617 (gdb)
29618 @end smallexample
29619
29620 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
29621 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
29622 used as the non-printable character.
29623
29624 @smallexample
29625 (gdb)
29626 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
29627 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
29628 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
29629 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
29630 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29631 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29632 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29633 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29634 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
29635 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
29636 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
29637 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
29638 (gdb)
29639 @end smallexample
29640
29641 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
29642 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
29643
29644 @subsubheading Synopsis
29645
29646 @smallexample
29647 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
29648 @var{address} @var{count}
29649 @end smallexample
29650
29651 @noindent
29652 where:
29653
29654 @table @samp
29655 @item @var{address}
29656 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29657 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29658 quoted using the C convention.
29659
29660 @item @var{count}
29661 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
29662
29663 @item @var{byte-offset}
29664 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
29665 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
29666 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
29667 perform address arithmetics itself.
29668
29669 @end table
29670
29671 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
29672 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
29673 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
29674 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
29675 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
29676 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
29677
29678 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
29679 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
29680 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
29681 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
29682 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
29683 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
29684 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
29685 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
29686
29687 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
29688 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
29689 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
29690 and has the following fields:
29691
29692 @table @code
29693 @item begin
29694 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
29695
29696 @item end
29697 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
29698
29699 @item offset
29700 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
29701 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
29702
29703 @item contents
29704 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
29705
29706 @end table
29707
29708
29709
29710 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29711
29712 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
29713
29714 @subsubheading Example
29715
29716 @smallexample
29717 (gdb)
29718 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
29719 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
29720 end="0xbffff15e",
29721 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
29722 (gdb)
29723 @end smallexample
29724
29725
29726 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
29727 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
29728
29729 @subsubheading Synopsis
29730
29731 @smallexample
29732 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
29733 @end smallexample
29734
29735 @noindent
29736 where:
29737
29738 @table @samp
29739 @item @var{address}
29740 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29741 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29742 quoted using the C convention.
29743
29744 @item @var{contents}
29745 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
29746
29747 @end table
29748
29749 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29750
29751 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
29752
29753 @subsubheading Example
29754
29755 @smallexample
29756 (gdb)
29757 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
29758 ^done
29759 (gdb)
29760 @end smallexample
29761
29762
29763 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29764 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
29765 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
29766
29767 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
29768 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
29769
29770 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
29771 @findex -trace-find
29772
29773 @subsubheading Synopsis
29774
29775 @smallexample
29776 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
29777 @end smallexample
29778
29779 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
29780 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
29781 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
29782
29783 @table @samp
29784
29785 @item none
29786 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
29787
29788 @item frame-number
29789 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
29790 that index.
29791
29792 @item tracepoint-number
29793 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
29794 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
29795
29796 @item pc
29797 An address is required as parameter. Finds
29798 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
29799 address.
29800
29801 @item pc-inside-range
29802 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
29803 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
29804 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
29805
29806 @item pc-outside-range
29807 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
29808 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
29809 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
29810
29811 @item line
29812 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
29813 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
29814 the specified location.
29815
29816 @end table
29817
29818 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
29819 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
29820
29821 @table @samp
29822 @item found
29823 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
29824 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
29825
29826 @item traceframe
29827 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
29828 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
29829
29830 @item tracepoint
29831 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
29832 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
29833
29834 @item frame
29835 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
29836 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
29837 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
29838
29839 @end table
29840
29841 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29842
29843 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
29844
29845 @subheading -trace-define-variable
29846 @findex -trace-define-variable
29847
29848 @subsubheading Synopsis
29849
29850 @smallexample
29851 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
29852 @end smallexample
29853
29854 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
29855 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
29856 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
29857 with the @samp{$} character.
29858
29859 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29860
29861 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
29862
29863 @subheading -trace-list-variables
29864 @findex -trace-list-variables
29865
29866 @subsubheading Synopsis
29867
29868 @smallexample
29869 -trace-list-variables
29870 @end smallexample
29871
29872 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
29873 table has the following fields:
29874
29875 @table @samp
29876 @item name
29877 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
29878
29879 @item initial
29880 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
29881 field is always present.
29882
29883 @item current
29884 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
29885 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
29886 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
29887 presently running.
29888
29889 @end table
29890
29891 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29892
29893 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
29894
29895 @subsubheading Example
29896
29897 @smallexample
29898 (gdb)
29899 -trace-list-variables
29900 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
29901 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
29902 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
29903 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
29904 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
29905 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
29906 (gdb)
29907 @end smallexample
29908
29909 @subheading -trace-save
29910 @findex -trace-save
29911
29912 @subsubheading Synopsis
29913
29914 @smallexample
29915 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
29916 @end smallexample
29917
29918 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
29919 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
29920 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
29921 to perform the save.
29922
29923 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29924
29925 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
29926
29927
29928 @subheading -trace-start
29929 @findex -trace-start
29930
29931 @subsubheading Synopsis
29932
29933 @smallexample
29934 -trace-start
29935 @end smallexample
29936
29937 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
29938 have any fields.
29939
29940 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29941
29942 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
29943
29944 @subheading -trace-status
29945 @findex -trace-status
29946
29947 @subsubheading Synopsis
29948
29949 @smallexample
29950 -trace-status
29951 @end smallexample
29952
29953 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
29954 the following fields:
29955
29956 @table @samp
29957
29958 @item supported
29959 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
29960 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
29961 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
29962 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
29963 started. This field is always present.
29964
29965 @item running
29966 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
29967 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
29968 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
29969
29970 @item stop-reason
29971 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
29972 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
29973 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
29974 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
29975 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
29976 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
29977 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
29978 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
29979 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
29980
29981 @item stopping-tracepoint
29982 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
29983 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
29984 @samp{passcount}.
29985
29986 @item frames
29987 @itemx frames-created
29988 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
29989 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
29990 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
29991 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
29992
29993 @item buffer-size
29994 @itemx buffer-free
29995 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
29996 remaining space. These fields are optional.
29997
29998 @item circular
29999 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
30000 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
30001 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
30002 and may fill up.
30003
30004 @item disconnected
30005 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
30006 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
30007 that the trace run will stop.
30008
30009 @end table
30010
30011 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30012
30013 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
30014
30015 @subheading -trace-stop
30016 @findex -trace-stop
30017
30018 @subsubheading Synopsis
30019
30020 @smallexample
30021 -trace-stop
30022 @end smallexample
30023
30024 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
30025 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
30026 @samp{running} fields are not output.
30027
30028 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30029
30030 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
30031
30032
30033 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30034 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
30035 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
30036
30037
30038 @ignore
30039 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
30040 @findex -symbol-info-address
30041
30042 @subsubheading Synopsis
30043
30044 @smallexample
30045 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
30046 @end smallexample
30047
30048 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
30049
30050 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30051
30052 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
30053
30054 @subsubheading Example
30055 N.A.
30056
30057
30058 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
30059 @findex -symbol-info-file
30060
30061 @subsubheading Synopsis
30062
30063 @smallexample
30064 -symbol-info-file
30065 @end smallexample
30066
30067 Show the file for the symbol.
30068
30069 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30070
30071 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
30072 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
30073
30074 @subsubheading Example
30075 N.A.
30076
30077
30078 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
30079 @findex -symbol-info-function
30080
30081 @subsubheading Synopsis
30082
30083 @smallexample
30084 -symbol-info-function
30085 @end smallexample
30086
30087 Show which function the symbol lives in.
30088
30089 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30090
30091 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
30092
30093 @subsubheading Example
30094 N.A.
30095
30096
30097 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
30098 @findex -symbol-info-line
30099
30100 @subsubheading Synopsis
30101
30102 @smallexample
30103 -symbol-info-line
30104 @end smallexample
30105
30106 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
30107
30108 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30109
30110 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
30111 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
30112
30113 @subsubheading Example
30114 N.A.
30115
30116
30117 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
30118 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
30119
30120 @subsubheading Synopsis
30121
30122 @smallexample
30123 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
30124 @end smallexample
30125
30126 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
30127
30128 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30129
30130 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
30131
30132 @subsubheading Example
30133 N.A.
30134
30135
30136 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
30137 @findex -symbol-list-functions
30138
30139 @subsubheading Synopsis
30140
30141 @smallexample
30142 -symbol-list-functions
30143 @end smallexample
30144
30145 List the functions in the executable.
30146
30147 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30148
30149 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
30150 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30151
30152 @subsubheading Example
30153 N.A.
30154 @end ignore
30155
30156
30157 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
30158 @findex -symbol-list-lines
30159
30160 @subsubheading Synopsis
30161
30162 @smallexample
30163 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
30164 @end smallexample
30165
30166 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
30167 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
30168 ascending PC order.
30169
30170 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30171
30172 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30173
30174 @subsubheading Example
30175 @smallexample
30176 (gdb)
30177 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
30178 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
30179 (gdb)
30180 @end smallexample
30181
30182
30183 @ignore
30184 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
30185 @findex -symbol-list-types
30186
30187 @subsubheading Synopsis
30188
30189 @smallexample
30190 -symbol-list-types
30191 @end smallexample
30192
30193 List all the type names.
30194
30195 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30196
30197 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
30198 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30199
30200 @subsubheading Example
30201 N.A.
30202
30203
30204 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
30205 @findex -symbol-list-variables
30206
30207 @subsubheading Synopsis
30208
30209 @smallexample
30210 -symbol-list-variables
30211 @end smallexample
30212
30213 List all the global and static variable names.
30214
30215 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30216
30217 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30218
30219 @subsubheading Example
30220 N.A.
30221
30222
30223 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
30224 @findex -symbol-locate
30225
30226 @subsubheading Synopsis
30227
30228 @smallexample
30229 -symbol-locate
30230 @end smallexample
30231
30232 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30233
30234 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
30235
30236 @subsubheading Example
30237 N.A.
30238
30239
30240 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
30241 @findex -symbol-type
30242
30243 @subsubheading Synopsis
30244
30245 @smallexample
30246 -symbol-type @var{variable}
30247 @end smallexample
30248
30249 Show type of @var{variable}.
30250
30251 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30252
30253 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
30254 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
30255
30256 @subsubheading Example
30257 N.A.
30258 @end ignore
30259
30260
30261 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30262 @node GDB/MI File Commands
30263 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
30264
30265 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
30266 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
30267
30268 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
30269 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
30270
30271 @subsubheading Synopsis
30272
30273 @smallexample
30274 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
30275 @end smallexample
30276
30277 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
30278 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
30279 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
30280 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
30281 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
30282 notification.
30283
30284 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30285
30286 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
30287
30288 @subsubheading Example
30289
30290 @smallexample
30291 (gdb)
30292 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30293 ^done
30294 (gdb)
30295 @end smallexample
30296
30297
30298 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
30299 @findex -file-exec-file
30300
30301 @subsubheading Synopsis
30302
30303 @smallexample
30304 -file-exec-file @var{file}
30305 @end smallexample
30306
30307 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
30308 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
30309 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
30310 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
30311 notification.
30312
30313 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30314
30315 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
30316
30317 @subsubheading Example
30318
30319 @smallexample
30320 (gdb)
30321 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30322 ^done
30323 (gdb)
30324 @end smallexample
30325
30326
30327 @ignore
30328 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
30329 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
30330
30331 @subsubheading Synopsis
30332
30333 @smallexample
30334 -file-list-exec-sections
30335 @end smallexample
30336
30337 List the sections of the current executable file.
30338
30339 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30340
30341 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
30342 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
30343 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
30344
30345 @subsubheading Example
30346 N.A.
30347 @end ignore
30348
30349
30350 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
30351 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
30352
30353 @subsubheading Synopsis
30354
30355 @smallexample
30356 -file-list-exec-source-file
30357 @end smallexample
30358
30359 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
30360 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
30361 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
30362 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
30363
30364 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30365
30366 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
30367
30368 @subsubheading Example
30369
30370 @smallexample
30371 (gdb)
30372 123-file-list-exec-source-file
30373 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
30374 (gdb)
30375 @end smallexample
30376
30377
30378 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
30379 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
30380
30381 @subsubheading Synopsis
30382
30383 @smallexample
30384 -file-list-exec-source-files
30385 @end smallexample
30386
30387 List the source files for the current executable.
30388
30389 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
30390 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
30391
30392 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30393
30394 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
30395 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
30396
30397 @subsubheading Example
30398 @smallexample
30399 (gdb)
30400 -file-list-exec-source-files
30401 ^done,files=[
30402 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
30403 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
30404 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
30405 (gdb)
30406 @end smallexample
30407
30408 @ignore
30409 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
30410 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
30411
30412 @subsubheading Synopsis
30413
30414 @smallexample
30415 -file-list-shared-libraries
30416 @end smallexample
30417
30418 List the shared libraries in the program.
30419
30420 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30421
30422 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
30423
30424 @subsubheading Example
30425 N.A.
30426
30427
30428 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
30429 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
30430
30431 @subsubheading Synopsis
30432
30433 @smallexample
30434 -file-list-symbol-files
30435 @end smallexample
30436
30437 List symbol files.
30438
30439 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30440
30441 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
30442
30443 @subsubheading Example
30444 N.A.
30445 @end ignore
30446
30447
30448 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
30449 @findex -file-symbol-file
30450
30451 @subsubheading Synopsis
30452
30453 @smallexample
30454 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
30455 @end smallexample
30456
30457 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
30458 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
30459 produced, except for a completion notification.
30460
30461 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30462
30463 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
30464
30465 @subsubheading Example
30466
30467 @smallexample
30468 (gdb)
30469 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30470 ^done
30471 (gdb)
30472 @end smallexample
30473
30474 @ignore
30475 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30476 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
30477 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
30478
30479 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
30480
30481 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
30482
30483 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
30484
30485 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
30486
30487 @c @subheading -overlay-map
30488
30489 @c @subheading -overlay-off
30490
30491 @c @subheading -overlay-on
30492
30493 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
30494
30495 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30496 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
30497 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
30498
30499 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
30500
30501 @c @subheading -signal-handle
30502
30503 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
30504
30505 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
30506 @end ignore
30507
30508
30509 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30510 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
30511 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
30512
30513
30514 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
30515 @findex -target-attach
30516
30517 @subsubheading Synopsis
30518
30519 @smallexample
30520 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
30521 @end smallexample
30522
30523 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
30524 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
30525 group, the id previously returned by
30526 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
30527
30528 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30529
30530 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
30531
30532 @subsubheading Example
30533 @smallexample
30534 (gdb)
30535 -target-attach 34
30536 =thread-created,id="1"
30537 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
30538 ^done
30539 (gdb)
30540 @end smallexample
30541
30542 @ignore
30543 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
30544 @findex -target-compare-sections
30545
30546 @subsubheading Synopsis
30547
30548 @smallexample
30549 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
30550 @end smallexample
30551
30552 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
30553 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
30554
30555 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30556
30557 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
30558
30559 @subsubheading Example
30560 N.A.
30561 @end ignore
30562
30563
30564 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
30565 @findex -target-detach
30566
30567 @subsubheading Synopsis
30568
30569 @smallexample
30570 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
30571 @end smallexample
30572
30573 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
30574 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
30575 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
30576
30577 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30578
30579 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
30580
30581 @subsubheading Example
30582
30583 @smallexample
30584 (gdb)
30585 -target-detach
30586 ^done
30587 (gdb)
30588 @end smallexample
30589
30590
30591 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
30592 @findex -target-disconnect
30593
30594 @subsubheading Synopsis
30595
30596 @smallexample
30597 -target-disconnect
30598 @end smallexample
30599
30600 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
30601 generally not resumed.
30602
30603 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30604
30605 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
30606
30607 @subsubheading Example
30608
30609 @smallexample
30610 (gdb)
30611 -target-disconnect
30612 ^done
30613 (gdb)
30614 @end smallexample
30615
30616
30617 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
30618 @findex -target-download
30619
30620 @subsubheading Synopsis
30621
30622 @smallexample
30623 -target-download
30624 @end smallexample
30625
30626 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
30627 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
30628
30629 @table @samp
30630 @item section
30631 The name of the section.
30632 @item section-sent
30633 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
30634 @item section-size
30635 The size of the section.
30636 @item total-sent
30637 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
30638 @item total-size
30639 The size of the overall executable to download.
30640 @end table
30641
30642 @noindent
30643 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
30644 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
30645
30646 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
30647 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
30648
30649 @table @samp
30650 @item section
30651 The name of the section.
30652 @item section-size
30653 The size of the section.
30654 @item total-size
30655 The size of the overall executable to download.
30656 @end table
30657
30658 @noindent
30659 At the end, a summary is printed.
30660
30661 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30662
30663 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
30664
30665 @subsubheading Example
30666
30667 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
30668 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
30669
30670 @smallexample
30671 (gdb)
30672 -target-download
30673 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
30674 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
30675 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
30676 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
30677 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
30678 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
30679 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
30680 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
30681 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
30682 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
30683 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
30684 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
30685 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
30686 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
30687 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
30688 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
30689 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
30690 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
30691 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
30692 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
30693 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
30694 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
30695 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
30696 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
30697 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
30698 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
30699 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
30700 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
30701 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
30702 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
30703 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
30704 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
30705 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
30706 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
30707 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
30708 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
30709 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
30710 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
30711 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
30712 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
30713 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
30714 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
30715 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
30716 write-rate="429"
30717 (gdb)
30718 @end smallexample
30719
30720
30721 @ignore
30722 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
30723 @findex -target-exec-status
30724
30725 @subsubheading Synopsis
30726
30727 @smallexample
30728 -target-exec-status
30729 @end smallexample
30730
30731 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
30732 not, for instance).
30733
30734 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30735
30736 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
30737
30738 @subsubheading Example
30739 N.A.
30740
30741
30742 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
30743 @findex -target-list-available-targets
30744
30745 @subsubheading Synopsis
30746
30747 @smallexample
30748 -target-list-available-targets
30749 @end smallexample
30750
30751 List the possible targets to connect to.
30752
30753 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30754
30755 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
30756
30757 @subsubheading Example
30758 N.A.
30759
30760
30761 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
30762 @findex -target-list-current-targets
30763
30764 @subsubheading Synopsis
30765
30766 @smallexample
30767 -target-list-current-targets
30768 @end smallexample
30769
30770 Describe the current target.
30771
30772 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30773
30774 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
30775 other things).
30776
30777 @subsubheading Example
30778 N.A.
30779
30780
30781 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
30782 @findex -target-list-parameters
30783
30784 @subsubheading Synopsis
30785
30786 @smallexample
30787 -target-list-parameters
30788 @end smallexample
30789
30790 @c ????
30791 @end ignore
30792
30793 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30794
30795 No equivalent.
30796
30797 @subsubheading Example
30798 N.A.
30799
30800
30801 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
30802 @findex -target-select
30803
30804 @subsubheading Synopsis
30805
30806 @smallexample
30807 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
30808 @end smallexample
30809
30810 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
30811
30812 @table @samp
30813 @item @var{type}
30814 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
30815 @item @var{parameters}
30816 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
30817 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
30818 @end table
30819
30820 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
30821 which the target program is, in the following form:
30822
30823 @smallexample
30824 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
30825 args=[@var{arg list}]
30826 @end smallexample
30827
30828 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30829
30830 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
30831
30832 @subsubheading Example
30833
30834 @smallexample
30835 (gdb)
30836 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
30837 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
30838 (gdb)
30839 @end smallexample
30840
30841 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30842 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
30843 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
30844
30845
30846 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
30847 @findex -target-file-put
30848
30849 @subsubheading Synopsis
30850
30851 @smallexample
30852 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
30853 @end smallexample
30854
30855 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
30856 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
30857
30858 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30859
30860 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
30861
30862 @subsubheading Example
30863
30864 @smallexample
30865 (gdb)
30866 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
30867 ^done
30868 (gdb)
30869 @end smallexample
30870
30871
30872 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
30873 @findex -target-file-get
30874
30875 @subsubheading Synopsis
30876
30877 @smallexample
30878 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
30879 @end smallexample
30880
30881 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
30882 on the host system.
30883
30884 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30885
30886 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
30887
30888 @subsubheading Example
30889
30890 @smallexample
30891 (gdb)
30892 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
30893 ^done
30894 (gdb)
30895 @end smallexample
30896
30897
30898 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
30899 @findex -target-file-delete
30900
30901 @subsubheading Synopsis
30902
30903 @smallexample
30904 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
30905 @end smallexample
30906
30907 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
30908
30909 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30910
30911 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
30912
30913 @subsubheading Example
30914
30915 @smallexample
30916 (gdb)
30917 -target-file-delete remotefile
30918 ^done
30919 (gdb)
30920 @end smallexample
30921
30922
30923 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30924 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
30925 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
30926
30927 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
30928
30929 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
30930 @findex -gdb-exit
30931
30932 @subsubheading Synopsis
30933
30934 @smallexample
30935 -gdb-exit
30936 @end smallexample
30937
30938 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
30939
30940 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30941
30942 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
30943
30944 @subsubheading Example
30945
30946 @smallexample
30947 (gdb)
30948 -gdb-exit
30949 ^exit
30950 @end smallexample
30951
30952
30953 @ignore
30954 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
30955 @findex -exec-abort
30956
30957 @subsubheading Synopsis
30958
30959 @smallexample
30960 -exec-abort
30961 @end smallexample
30962
30963 Kill the inferior running program.
30964
30965 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30966
30967 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
30968
30969 @subsubheading Example
30970 N.A.
30971 @end ignore
30972
30973
30974 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
30975 @findex -gdb-set
30976
30977 @subsubheading Synopsis
30978
30979 @smallexample
30980 -gdb-set
30981 @end smallexample
30982
30983 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
30984 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
30985
30986 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30987
30988 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
30989
30990 @subsubheading Example
30991
30992 @smallexample
30993 (gdb)
30994 -gdb-set $foo=3
30995 ^done
30996 (gdb)
30997 @end smallexample
30998
30999
31000 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
31001 @findex -gdb-show
31002
31003 @subsubheading Synopsis
31004
31005 @smallexample
31006 -gdb-show
31007 @end smallexample
31008
31009 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
31010
31011 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31012
31013 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
31014
31015 @subsubheading Example
31016
31017 @smallexample
31018 (gdb)
31019 -gdb-show annotate
31020 ^done,value="0"
31021 (gdb)
31022 @end smallexample
31023
31024 @c @subheading -gdb-source
31025
31026
31027 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
31028 @findex -gdb-version
31029
31030 @subsubheading Synopsis
31031
31032 @smallexample
31033 -gdb-version
31034 @end smallexample
31035
31036 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
31037
31038 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31039
31040 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
31041 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
31042
31043 @subsubheading Example
31044
31045 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
31046 @c box in TeX.
31047 @smallexample
31048 (gdb)
31049 -gdb-version
31050 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
31051 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
31052 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
31053 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
31054 ~ certain conditions.
31055 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
31056 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
31057 ~ details.
31058 ~This GDB was configured as
31059 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
31060 ^done
31061 (gdb)
31062 @end smallexample
31063
31064 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
31065 @findex -list-features
31066
31067 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
31068 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
31069 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
31070 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
31071 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
31072 startup.
31073
31074 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
31075 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
31076 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
31077 is given below.
31078
31079 Example output:
31080
31081 @smallexample
31082 (gdb) -list-features
31083 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
31084 @end smallexample
31085
31086 The current list of features is:
31087
31088 @table @samp
31089 @item frozen-varobjs
31090 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
31091 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
31092 of @code{-varobj-create}.
31093 @item pending-breakpoints
31094 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
31095 command.
31096 @item python
31097 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
31098 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
31099 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
31100 @item thread-info
31101 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
31102 @item data-read-memory-bytes
31103 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
31104 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
31105 @item breakpoint-notifications
31106 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
31107 CLI will be announced via async records.
31108 @item ada-task-info
31109 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
31110 @end table
31111
31112 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
31113 @findex -list-target-features
31114
31115 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
31116 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
31117 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
31118 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
31119 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
31120 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
31121 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
31122 Example output:
31123
31124 @smallexample
31125 (gdb) -list-features
31126 ^done,result=["async"]
31127 @end smallexample
31128
31129 The current list of features is:
31130
31131 @table @samp
31132 @item async
31133 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
31134 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
31135 while the target is running.
31136
31137 @item reverse
31138 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
31139 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31140
31141 @end table
31142
31143 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
31144 @findex -list-thread-groups
31145
31146 @subheading Synopsis
31147
31148 @smallexample
31149 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
31150 @end smallexample
31151
31152 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
31153 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
31154 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
31155 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
31156 top-level thread groups.
31157
31158 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
31159 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
31160 available on the target.
31161
31162 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
31163 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
31164 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
31165 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
31166 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
31167 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
31168 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
31169 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
31170
31171 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
31172 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
31173 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
31174 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
31175 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
31176 @samp{threads} field.
31177
31178 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
31179 the following caveats:
31180
31181 @itemize @bullet
31182 @item
31183 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
31184 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
31185 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
31186
31187 @item
31188 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
31189 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
31190 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
31191 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
31192 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
31193 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
31194
31195 @end itemize
31196
31197 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
31198 have the following fields:
31199
31200 @table @code
31201 @item id
31202 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
31203 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
31204 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
31205
31206 @item type
31207 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
31208 valid type.
31209
31210 @item pid
31211 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
31212 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
31213
31214 @item num_children
31215 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
31216 absent for an available thread group.
31217
31218 @item threads
31219 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
31220 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
31221 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
31222
31223 @item cores
31224 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
31225 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
31226 such information is not available.
31227
31228 @item executable
31229 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
31230 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
31231 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
31232
31233 @end table
31234
31235 @subheading Example
31236
31237 @smallexample
31238 @value{GDBP}
31239 -list-thread-groups
31240 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
31241 -list-thread-groups 17
31242 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
31243 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
31244 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
31245 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
31246 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
31247 -list-thread-groups --available
31248 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
31249 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
31250 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
31251 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
31252 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
31253 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
31254 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
31255 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
31256 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
31257 @end smallexample
31258
31259
31260 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
31261 @findex -add-inferior
31262
31263 @subheading Synopsis
31264
31265 @smallexample
31266 -add-inferior
31267 @end smallexample
31268
31269 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
31270 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
31271 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
31272 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
31273 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
31274 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
31275
31276 @subheading Example
31277
31278 @smallexample
31279 @value{GDBP}
31280 -add-inferior
31281 ^done,thread-group="i3"
31282 @end smallexample
31283
31284 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
31285 @findex -interpreter-exec
31286
31287 @subheading Synopsis
31288
31289 @smallexample
31290 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
31291 @end smallexample
31292 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
31293
31294 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
31295
31296 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31297
31298 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
31299
31300 @subheading Example
31301
31302 @smallexample
31303 (gdb)
31304 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
31305 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
31306 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
31307 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
31308 ^done
31309 (gdb)
31310 @end smallexample
31311
31312 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
31313 @findex -inferior-tty-set
31314
31315 @subheading Synopsis
31316
31317 @smallexample
31318 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31319 @end smallexample
31320
31321 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
31322
31323 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31324
31325 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
31326
31327 @subheading Example
31328
31329 @smallexample
31330 (gdb)
31331 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31332 ^done
31333 (gdb)
31334 @end smallexample
31335
31336 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
31337 @findex -inferior-tty-show
31338
31339 @subheading Synopsis
31340
31341 @smallexample
31342 -inferior-tty-show
31343 @end smallexample
31344
31345 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
31346
31347 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31348
31349 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
31350
31351 @subheading Example
31352
31353 @smallexample
31354 (gdb)
31355 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31356 ^done
31357 (gdb)
31358 -inferior-tty-show
31359 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
31360 (gdb)
31361 @end smallexample
31362
31363 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
31364 @findex -enable-timings
31365
31366 @subheading Synopsis
31367
31368 @smallexample
31369 -enable-timings [yes | no]
31370 @end smallexample
31371
31372 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
31373 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
31374 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
31375 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
31376
31377 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31378
31379 No equivalent.
31380
31381 @subheading Example
31382
31383 @smallexample
31384 (gdb)
31385 -enable-timings
31386 ^done
31387 (gdb)
31388 -break-insert main
31389 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
31390 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
31391 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
31392 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
31393 (gdb)
31394 -enable-timings no
31395 ^done
31396 (gdb)
31397 -exec-run
31398 ^running
31399 (gdb)
31400 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
31401 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
31402 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
31403 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
31404 (gdb)
31405 @end smallexample
31406
31407 @node Annotations
31408 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
31409
31410 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
31411 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
31412 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
31413 relatively high level.
31414
31415 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
31416 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
31417
31418 @ignore
31419 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
31420 @end ignore
31421
31422 @menu
31423 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
31424 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
31425 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
31426 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
31427 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
31428 * Annotations for Running::
31429 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
31430 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
31431 @end menu
31432
31433 @node Annotations Overview
31434 @section What is an Annotation?
31435 @cindex annotations
31436
31437 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
31438 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
31439 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
31440 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
31441 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
31442 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
31443 cannot contain newline characters.
31444
31445 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
31446 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
31447 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
31448 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
31449 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
31450 means those three characters as output.
31451
31452 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
31453 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
31454 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
31455 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
31456 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
31457 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
31458 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
31459 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
31460 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
31461
31462 @table @code
31463 @kindex set annotate
31464 @item set annotate @var{level}
31465 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
31466 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
31467
31468 @item show annotate
31469 @kindex show annotate
31470 Show the current annotation level.
31471 @end table
31472
31473 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
31474
31475 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
31476
31477 @smallexample
31478 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
31479 GNU gdb 6.0
31480 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
31481 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
31482 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
31483 under certain conditions.
31484 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
31485 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
31486 for details.
31487 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
31488
31489 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
31490 (@value{GDBP})
31491 ^Z^Zprompt
31492 @kbd{quit}
31493
31494 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
31495 $
31496 @end smallexample
31497
31498 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
31499 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
31500 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
31501 output from @value{GDBN}.
31502
31503 @node Server Prefix
31504 @section The Server Prefix
31505 @cindex server prefix
31506
31507 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
31508 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
31509 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
31510 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
31511 a transparent manner.
31512
31513 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
31514 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
31515 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
31516 @code{print} command.
31517
31518 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
31519 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
31520
31521 @node Prompting
31522 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
31523
31524 @cindex annotations for prompts
31525 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
31526 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
31527 over, etc.
31528
31529 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
31530 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
31531 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
31532 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
31533 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
31534 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
31535 features the following annotations:
31536
31537 @smallexample
31538 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
31539 ^Z^Zprompt
31540 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
31541 @end smallexample
31542
31543 The input types are
31544
31545 @table @code
31546 @findex pre-prompt annotation
31547 @findex prompt annotation
31548 @findex post-prompt annotation
31549 @item prompt
31550 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
31551
31552 @findex pre-commands annotation
31553 @findex commands annotation
31554 @findex post-commands annotation
31555 @item commands
31556 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
31557 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
31558
31559 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
31560 @findex overload-choice annotation
31561 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
31562 @item overload-choice
31563 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
31564
31565 @findex pre-query annotation
31566 @findex query annotation
31567 @findex post-query annotation
31568 @item query
31569 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
31570
31571 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
31572 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
31573 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
31574 @item prompt-for-continue
31575 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
31576 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
31577 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
31578 presence of annotations.
31579 @end table
31580
31581 @node Errors
31582 @section Errors
31583 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
31584
31585 @findex quit annotation
31586 @smallexample
31587 ^Z^Zquit
31588 @end smallexample
31589
31590 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
31591
31592 @findex error annotation
31593 @smallexample
31594 ^Z^Zerror
31595 @end smallexample
31596
31597 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
31598
31599 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
31600 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
31601 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
31602 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
31603 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
31604 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
31605 to the top level.
31606
31607 @findex error-begin annotation
31608 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
31609
31610 @smallexample
31611 ^Z^Zerror-begin
31612 @end smallexample
31613
31614 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
31615 message.
31616
31617 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
31618 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
31619 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
31620
31621 @node Invalidation
31622 @section Invalidation Notices
31623
31624 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
31625 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
31626 changed.
31627
31628 @table @code
31629 @findex frames-invalid annotation
31630 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
31631
31632 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
31633 have changed.
31634
31635 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
31636 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
31637
31638 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
31639 deleted a breakpoint.
31640 @end table
31641
31642 @node Annotations for Running
31643 @section Running the Program
31644 @cindex annotations for running programs
31645
31646 @findex starting annotation
31647 @findex stopping annotation
31648 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
31649 @code{step} or @code{continue},
31650
31651 @smallexample
31652 ^Z^Zstarting
31653 @end smallexample
31654
31655 is output. When the program stops,
31656
31657 @smallexample
31658 ^Z^Zstopped
31659 @end smallexample
31660
31661 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
31662 annotations describe how the program stopped.
31663
31664 @table @code
31665 @findex exited annotation
31666 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
31667 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
31668 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
31669
31670 @findex signalled annotation
31671 @findex signal-name annotation
31672 @findex signal-name-end annotation
31673 @findex signal-string annotation
31674 @findex signal-string-end annotation
31675 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
31676 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
31677 annotation continues:
31678
31679 @smallexample
31680 @var{intro-text}
31681 ^Z^Zsignal-name
31682 @var{name}
31683 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
31684 @var{middle-text}
31685 ^Z^Zsignal-string
31686 @var{string}
31687 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
31688 @var{end-text}
31689 @end smallexample
31690
31691 @noindent
31692 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
31693 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
31694 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
31695 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
31696 user's benefit and have no particular format.
31697
31698 @findex signal annotation
31699 @item ^Z^Zsignal
31700 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
31701 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
31702 terminated with it.
31703
31704 @findex breakpoint annotation
31705 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
31706 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
31707
31708 @findex watchpoint annotation
31709 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
31710 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
31711 @end table
31712
31713 @node Source Annotations
31714 @section Displaying Source
31715 @cindex annotations for source display
31716
31717 @findex source annotation
31718 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
31719
31720 @smallexample
31721 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
31722 @end smallexample
31723
31724 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
31725 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
31726 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
31727 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
31728 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
31729 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
31730 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
31731 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
31732 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
31733 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
31734 depend on the language).
31735
31736 @node JIT Interface
31737 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
31738 @cindex just-in-time compilation
31739 @cindex JIT compilation interface
31740
31741 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
31742 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
31743 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
31744 performance while maintaining platform independence.
31745
31746 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
31747 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
31748 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
31749 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
31750 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
31751 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
31752
31753 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
31754 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
31755 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
31756 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
31757 LLVM JIT.
31758
31759 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
31760 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
31761 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
31762 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
31763 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
31764 out about additional code.
31765
31766 @menu
31767 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
31768 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
31769 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
31770 @end menu
31771
31772 @node Declarations
31773 @section JIT Declarations
31774
31775 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
31776 implement the interface:
31777
31778 @smallexample
31779 typedef enum
31780 @{
31781 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
31782 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
31783 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
31784 @} jit_actions_t;
31785
31786 struct jit_code_entry
31787 @{
31788 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
31789 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
31790 const char *symfile_addr;
31791 uint64_t symfile_size;
31792 @};
31793
31794 struct jit_descriptor
31795 @{
31796 uint32_t version;
31797 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
31798 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
31799 uint32_t action_flag;
31800 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
31801 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
31802 @};
31803
31804 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
31805 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
31806
31807 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
31808 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
31809 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
31810 @end smallexample
31811
31812 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
31813 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
31814 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
31815
31816 @node Registering Code
31817 @section Registering Code
31818
31819 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
31820
31821 @itemize @bullet
31822 @item
31823 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
31824 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
31825
31826 @item
31827 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
31828 file.
31829
31830 @item
31831 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
31832
31833 @item
31834 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
31835
31836 @item
31837 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
31838 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
31839 @end itemize
31840
31841 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
31842 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
31843 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
31844 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
31845
31846 @node Unregistering Code
31847 @section Unregistering Code
31848
31849 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
31850
31851 @itemize @bullet
31852 @item
31853 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
31854
31855 @item
31856 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
31857
31858 @item
31859 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
31860 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
31861 @end itemize
31862
31863 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
31864 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
31865
31866 @node GDB Bugs
31867 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
31868 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
31869 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
31870
31871 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
31872
31873 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
31874 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
31875 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
31876 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
31877
31878 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
31879 information that enables us to fix the bug.
31880
31881 @menu
31882 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
31883 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
31884 @end menu
31885
31886 @node Bug Criteria
31887 @section Have You Found a Bug?
31888 @cindex bug criteria
31889
31890 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
31891
31892 @itemize @bullet
31893 @cindex fatal signal
31894 @cindex debugger crash
31895 @cindex crash of debugger
31896 @item
31897 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
31898 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
31899
31900 @cindex error on valid input
31901 @item
31902 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
31903 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
31904 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
31905
31906 @cindex invalid input
31907 @item
31908 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
31909 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
31910 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
31911 for traditional practice''.
31912
31913 @item
31914 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
31915 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
31916 @end itemize
31917
31918 @node Bug Reporting
31919 @section How to Report Bugs
31920 @cindex bug reports
31921 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
31922
31923 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
31924 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
31925 contact that organization first.
31926
31927 You can find contact information for many support companies and
31928 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
31929 distribution.
31930 @c should add a web page ref...
31931
31932 @ifset BUGURL
31933 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
31934 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
31935 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
31936 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
31937 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
31938 be used.
31939
31940 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
31941 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
31942 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
31943 @samp{bug-gdb}.
31944
31945 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
31946 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
31947 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
31948 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
31949 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
31950 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
31951 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
31952 bug reports to the mailing list.
31953 @end ifset
31954 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
31955 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
31956 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
31957 @end ifclear
31958 @end ifset
31959
31960 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
31961 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
31962 fact or leave it out, state it!
31963
31964 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
31965 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
31966 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
31967 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
31968 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
31969 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
31970 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
31971 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
31972 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
31973
31974 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
31975 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
31976 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
31977 self-contained.
31978
31979 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
31980 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
31981 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
31982 bugs properly.
31983
31984 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
31985
31986 @itemize @bullet
31987 @item
31988 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
31989 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
31990 version}.
31991
31992 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
31993 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
31994
31995 @item
31996 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
31997 version number.
31998
31999 @item
32000 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
32001 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
32002
32003 @item
32004 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
32005 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
32006 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
32007 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
32008 those compilers.
32009
32010 @item
32011 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
32012 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
32013 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
32014 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
32015
32016 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
32017 and then we might not encounter the bug.
32018
32019 @item
32020 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
32021 reproduce the bug.
32022
32023 @item
32024 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
32025 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
32026
32027 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
32028 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
32029 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
32030 a chance to make a mistake.
32031
32032 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
32033 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
32034 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
32035 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
32036 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
32037 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
32038 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
32039 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
32040
32041 @pindex script
32042 @cindex recording a session script
32043 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
32044 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
32045 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
32046 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
32047
32048 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
32049 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
32050
32051 @item
32052 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
32053 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
32054 it by context, not by line number.
32055
32056 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
32057 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
32058
32059 @end itemize
32060
32061 Here are some things that are not necessary:
32062
32063 @itemize @bullet
32064 @item
32065 A description of the envelope of the bug.
32066
32067 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
32068 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
32069 changes will not affect it.
32070
32071 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
32072 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
32073 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
32074 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
32075
32076 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
32077 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
32078 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
32079 less time, and so on.
32080
32081 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
32082 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
32083
32084 @item
32085 A patch for the bug.
32086
32087 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
32088 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
32089 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
32090 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
32091
32092 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
32093 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
32094 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
32095 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
32096
32097 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
32098 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
32099 help us to understand.
32100
32101 @item
32102 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
32103
32104 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
32105 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
32106 @end itemize
32107
32108 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
32109 @c and consists of the two following files:
32110 @c rluser.texi
32111 @c hsuser.texi
32112 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
32113 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
32114 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
32115 @include rluser.texi
32116 @include hsuser.texi
32117 @end ifclear
32118
32119 @node In Memoriam
32120 @appendix In Memoriam
32121
32122 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
32123 contributors:
32124
32125 @table @code
32126 @item Fred Fish
32127 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
32128 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
32129 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
32130
32131 @item Michael Snyder
32132 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
32133 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
32134 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
32135 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
32136 @end table
32137
32138 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
32139 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
32140
32141 @node Formatting Documentation
32142 @appendix Formatting Documentation
32143
32144 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
32145 @cindex reference card
32146 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
32147 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
32148 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
32149 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
32150 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
32151 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
32152
32153 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
32154 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
32155
32156 @smallexample
32157 make refcard.dvi
32158 @end smallexample
32159
32160 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
32161 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
32162 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
32163 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
32164 your @sc{dvi} output program.
32165
32166 @cindex documentation
32167
32168 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
32169 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
32170 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
32171 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
32172 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
32173 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
32174
32175 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
32176 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
32177 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
32178 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
32179 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
32180 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
32181 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
32182 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
32183
32184 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
32185 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
32186 @code{makeinfo}.
32187
32188 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
32189 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
32190 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
32191
32192 @smallexample
32193 cd gdb
32194 make gdb.info
32195 @end smallexample
32196
32197 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
32198 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
32199 Texinfo definitions file.
32200
32201 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
32202 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
32203 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
32204 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
32205 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
32206 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
32207 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
32208
32209 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
32210 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
32211 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
32212 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
32213 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
32214 directory.
32215
32216 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
32217 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
32218 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
32219 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
32220
32221 @smallexample
32222 make gdb.dvi
32223 @end smallexample
32224
32225 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
32226
32227 @node Installing GDB
32228 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
32229 @cindex installation
32230
32231 @menu
32232 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
32233 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
32234 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
32235 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
32236 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
32237 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
32238 @end menu
32239
32240 @node Requirements
32241 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
32242 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
32243
32244 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
32245 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
32246
32247 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
32248 @table @asis
32249 @item ISO C90 compiler
32250 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
32251 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
32252
32253 @end table
32254
32255 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
32256 @table @asis
32257 @item Expat
32258 @anchor{Expat}
32259 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
32260 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
32261 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
32262 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
32263 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
32264 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
32265
32266 Expat is used for:
32267
32268 @itemize @bullet
32269 @item
32270 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
32271 @item
32272 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
32273 @item
32274 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
32275 @item
32276 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
32277 @item
32278 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
32279 @end itemize
32280
32281 @item zlib
32282 @cindex compressed debug sections
32283 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
32284 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
32285 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
32286 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
32287 information in such binaries.
32288
32289 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
32290 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
32291 @url{http://zlib.net}.
32292
32293 @item iconv
32294 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
32295 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
32296 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
32297 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
32298
32299 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
32300 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
32301 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
32302 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
32303
32304 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
32305 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
32306 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
32307
32308 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
32309 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
32310 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
32311 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
32312 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
32313 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
32314 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
32315 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
32316 @end table
32317
32318 @node Running Configure
32319 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
32320 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
32321 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
32322 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
32323 build the @code{gdb} program.
32324 @iftex
32325 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
32326 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
32327 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
32328 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
32329 @end iftex
32330
32331 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
32332 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
32333 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
32334
32335 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
32336 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
32337
32338 @table @code
32339 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
32340 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
32341
32342 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
32343 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
32344
32345 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
32346 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
32347
32348 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
32349 @sc{gnu} include files
32350
32351 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
32352 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
32353
32354 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
32355 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
32356
32357 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
32358 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
32359
32360 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
32361 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
32362
32363 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
32364 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
32365 @end table
32366
32367 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
32368 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
32369 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
32370
32371 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
32372 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
32373 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
32374 argument.
32375
32376 For example:
32377
32378 @smallexample
32379 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
32380 ./configure @var{host}
32381 make
32382 @end smallexample
32383
32384 @noindent
32385 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
32386 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
32387 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
32388 correct value by examining your system.)
32389
32390 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
32391 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
32392 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
32393 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
32394
32395 @need 750
32396 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
32397 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
32398 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
32399
32400 @smallexample
32401 sh configure @var{host}
32402 @end smallexample
32403
32404 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
32405 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
32406 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
32407 @file{configure}
32408 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
32409 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
32410
32411 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
32412 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
32413 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
32414 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
32415 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
32416 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
32417 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
32418 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
32419 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
32420
32421 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
32422 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
32423 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
32424 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
32425 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
32426
32427 @node Separate Objdir
32428 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
32429
32430 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
32431 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
32432 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
32433 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
32434 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
32435 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
32436 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
32437 program specified there.
32438
32439 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
32440 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
32441 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
32442 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
32443 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
32444 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
32445
32446 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
32447 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
32448
32449 @smallexample
32450 @group
32451 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
32452 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
32453 cd ../gdb-sun4
32454 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
32455 make
32456 @end group
32457 @end smallexample
32458
32459 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
32460 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
32461 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
32462 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
32463 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
32464 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
32465
32466 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
32467 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
32468 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
32469 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
32470 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
32471
32472 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
32473 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
32474 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
32475 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
32476 You specify a cross-debugging target by
32477 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
32478
32479 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
32480 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
32481 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
32482
32483 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
32484 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
32485 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
32486 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
32487 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
32488
32489 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
32490 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
32491 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
32492 with each other.
32493
32494 @node Config Names
32495 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
32496
32497 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
32498 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
32499 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
32500 of information in the following pattern:
32501
32502 @smallexample
32503 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
32504 @end smallexample
32505
32506 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
32507 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
32508 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
32509
32510 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
32511 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
32512 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
32513 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
32514 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
32515 abbreviations---for example:
32516
32517 @smallexample
32518 % sh config.sub i386-linux
32519 i386-pc-linux-gnu
32520 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
32521 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
32522 % sh config.sub hp9k700
32523 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
32524 % sh config.sub sun4
32525 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
32526 % sh config.sub sun3
32527 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
32528 % sh config.sub i986v
32529 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
32530 @end smallexample
32531
32532 @noindent
32533 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
32534 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
32535
32536 @node Configure Options
32537 @section @file{configure} Options
32538
32539 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
32540 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
32541 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
32542 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
32543
32544 @smallexample
32545 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
32546 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
32547 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
32548 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
32549 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
32550 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
32551 @var{host}
32552 @end smallexample
32553
32554 @noindent
32555 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
32556 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
32557 @samp{--}.
32558
32559 @table @code
32560 @item --help
32561 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
32562
32563 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
32564 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
32565 @file{@var{dir}}.
32566
32567 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
32568 Configure the source to install programs under directory
32569 @file{@var{dir}}.
32570
32571 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
32572 @need 2000
32573 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
32574 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
32575 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
32576 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
32577 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
32578 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
32579 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
32580 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
32581 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
32582 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
32583 @var{dirname}.
32584
32585 @item --norecursion
32586 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
32587 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
32588
32589 @item --target=@var{target}
32590 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
32591 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
32592 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
32593
32594 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
32595
32596 @item @var{host} @dots{}
32597 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
32598
32599 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
32600 @end table
32601
32602 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
32603 needed for special purposes only.
32604
32605 @node System-wide configuration
32606 @section System-wide configuration and settings
32607 @cindex system-wide init file
32608
32609 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
32610 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
32611 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
32612
32613 Here is the corresponding configure option:
32614
32615 @table @code
32616 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
32617 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
32618 @var{file}.
32619 @end table
32620
32621 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
32622 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
32623
32624 @itemize @bullet
32625 @item
32626 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
32627 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
32628 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
32629 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
32630 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
32631 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
32632
32633 @item
32634 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
32635 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
32636 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
32637 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
32638 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
32639 @end itemize
32640
32641 @node Maintenance Commands
32642 @appendix Maintenance Commands
32643 @cindex maintenance commands
32644 @cindex internal commands
32645
32646 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
32647 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
32648 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
32649 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
32650 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
32651
32652 @table @code
32653 @kindex maint agent
32654 @kindex maint agent-eval
32655 @item maint agent @var{expression}
32656 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
32657 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
32658 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
32659 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
32660 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
32661 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
32662 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
32663 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
32664 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
32665 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
32666 addition and return the sum.
32667
32668 @kindex maint info breakpoints
32669 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
32670 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
32671 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
32672 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
32673 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
32674 is shown:
32675
32676 @table @code
32677 @item breakpoint
32678 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
32679
32680 @item watchpoint
32681 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
32682
32683 @item longjmp
32684 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
32685 @code{longjmp} calls.
32686
32687 @item longjmp resume
32688 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
32689
32690 @item until
32691 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
32692
32693 @item finish
32694 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
32695
32696 @item shlib events
32697 Shared library events.
32698
32699 @end table
32700
32701 @kindex set displaced-stepping
32702 @kindex show displaced-stepping
32703 @cindex displaced stepping support
32704 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
32705 @item set displaced-stepping
32706 @itemx show displaced-stepping
32707 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
32708 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
32709 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
32710 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
32711 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
32712
32713 @table @code
32714 @item set displaced-stepping on
32715 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
32716 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
32717
32718 @item set displaced-stepping off
32719 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
32720 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
32721
32722 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
32723 @item set displaced-stepping auto
32724 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
32725 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
32726 architecture supports displaced stepping.
32727 @end table
32728
32729 @kindex maint check-symtabs
32730 @item maint check-symtabs
32731 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
32732
32733 @kindex maint cplus first_component
32734 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
32735 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
32736
32737 @kindex maint cplus namespace
32738 @item maint cplus namespace
32739 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
32740
32741 @kindex maint demangle
32742 @item maint demangle @var{name}
32743 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
32744
32745 @kindex maint deprecate
32746 @kindex maint undeprecate
32747 @cindex deprecated commands
32748 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
32749 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
32750 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
32751 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
32752 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
32753 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
32754 the replacement as part of the warning.
32755
32756 @kindex maint dump-me
32757 @item maint dump-me
32758 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
32759 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
32760 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
32761 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
32762
32763 @kindex maint internal-error
32764 @kindex maint internal-warning
32765 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
32766 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
32767 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
32768 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
32769 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
32770 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
32771 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
32772 @value{GDBN} session.
32773
32774 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
32775 used as the text of the error or warning message.
32776
32777 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
32778
32779 @smallexample
32780 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
32781 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
32782 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
32783 debugging may prove unreliable.
32784 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
32785 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
32786 (@value{GDBP})
32787 @end smallexample
32788
32789 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
32790 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
32791
32792 @kindex maint set internal-error
32793 @kindex maint show internal-error
32794 @kindex maint set internal-warning
32795 @kindex maint show internal-warning
32796 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
32797 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
32798 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
32799 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
32800 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
32801 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
32802 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
32803 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
32804 described in the table below.
32805
32806 @table @samp
32807 @item quit
32808 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
32809 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
32810
32811 @item corefile
32812 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
32813 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
32814 @end table
32815
32816 @kindex maint packet
32817 @item maint packet @var{text}
32818 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
32819 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
32820 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
32821 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
32822 checksum.
32823
32824 @kindex maint print architecture
32825 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
32826 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
32827 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
32828
32829 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
32830 @item maint print c-tdesc
32831 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
32832 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
32833 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
32834
32835 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
32836 @item maint print dummy-frames
32837 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
32838
32839 @smallexample
32840 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
32841 @dots{}
32842 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
32843 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
32844 58 return (a + b);
32845 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
32846 @dots{}
32847 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
32848 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
32849 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
32850 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
32851 (@value{GDBP})
32852 @end smallexample
32853
32854 Takes an optional file parameter.
32855
32856 @kindex maint print registers
32857 @kindex maint print raw-registers
32858 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
32859 @kindex maint print register-groups
32860 @kindex maint print remote-registers
32861 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
32862 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
32863 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
32864 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
32865 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
32866 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
32867
32868 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
32869 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
32870 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
32871 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
32872 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
32873 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
32874 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
32875 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
32876 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
32877
32878 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
32879 write the information.
32880
32881 @kindex maint print reggroups
32882 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
32883 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
32884 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
32885 information.
32886
32887 The register groups info looks like this:
32888
32889 @smallexample
32890 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
32891 Group Type
32892 general user
32893 float user
32894 all user
32895 vector user
32896 system user
32897 save internal
32898 restore internal
32899 @end smallexample
32900
32901 @kindex flushregs
32902 @item flushregs
32903 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
32904
32905 @kindex maint print objfiles
32906 @cindex info for known object files
32907 @item maint print objfiles
32908 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
32909 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
32910 and symtabs.
32911
32912 @kindex maint print section-scripts
32913 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
32914 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
32915 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
32916 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
32917 matching @var{regexp}.
32918 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
32919 and the full path if known.
32920 @xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
32921
32922 @kindex maint print statistics
32923 @cindex bcache statistics
32924 @item maint print statistics
32925 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
32926 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
32927 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
32928 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
32929 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
32930 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
32931 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
32932 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
32933 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
32934 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
32935 lengths.
32936
32937 @kindex maint print target-stack
32938 @cindex target stack description
32939 @item maint print target-stack
32940 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
32941 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
32942 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
32943 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
32944 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
32945 address.
32946
32947 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
32948 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
32949
32950 @kindex maint print type
32951 @cindex type chain of a data type
32952 @item maint print type @var{expr}
32953 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
32954 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
32955 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
32956 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
32957 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
32958
32959 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
32960 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
32961 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
32962 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
32963 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
32964 information.
32965
32966 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
32967 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
32968 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
32969 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
32970 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
32971 always see the disassembly form.
32972
32973 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
32974
32975 @smallexample
32976 (gdb) info addr argc
32977 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
32978 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
32979 @end smallexample
32980
32981 For more information on these expressions, see
32982 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
32983
32984 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
32985 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
32986 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
32987 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
32988 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
32989
32990 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
32991 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
32992 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
32993 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
32994 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
32995 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
32996 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
32997 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
32998 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
32999
33000 @kindex maint set profile
33001 @kindex maint show profile
33002 @cindex profiling GDB
33003 @item maint set profile
33004 @itemx maint show profile
33005 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
33006
33007 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
33008 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
33009 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
33010 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
33011 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
33012 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
33013 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
33014
33015 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
33016 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
33017
33018 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
33019 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
33020 @cindex hardware debug registers
33021 @item maint set show-debug-regs
33022 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
33023 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
33024 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
33025 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
33026 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
33027 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
33028
33029 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
33030 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
33031 @item maint set show-all-tib
33032 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
33033 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
33034 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
33035 command.
33036
33037 @kindex maint space
33038 @cindex memory used by commands
33039 @item maint space
33040 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
33041 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
33042 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
33043 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
33044 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
33045
33046 @kindex maint time
33047 @cindex time of command execution
33048 @item maint time
33049 Control whether to display the execution time of @value{GDBN} for each command.
33050 If set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
33051 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
33052 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
33053 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
33054 CPU or, e.g., disk/network, latency.
33055 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
33056 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
33057 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
33058 spent by the program been debugged.
33059 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
33060 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
33061
33062 @kindex maint translate-address
33063 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
33064 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
33065 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
33066 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
33067 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
33068 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
33069 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
33070
33071 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
33072 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
33073 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
33074
33075 @end table
33076
33077 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
33078 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
33079
33080 @table @code
33081 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
33082 @kindex set watchdog
33083 @cindex watchdog timer
33084 @cindex timeout for commands
33085 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
33086 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
33087 reports and error and the command is aborted.
33088
33089 @item show watchdog
33090 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
33091 @end table
33092
33093 @node Remote Protocol
33094 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
33095
33096 @menu
33097 * Overview::
33098 * Packets::
33099 * Stop Reply Packets::
33100 * General Query Packets::
33101 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
33102 * Tracepoint Packets::
33103 * Host I/O Packets::
33104 * Interrupts::
33105 * Notification Packets::
33106 * Remote Non-Stop::
33107 * Packet Acknowledgment::
33108 * Examples::
33109 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
33110 * Library List Format::
33111 * Memory Map Format::
33112 * Thread List Format::
33113 * Traceframe Info Format::
33114 @end menu
33115
33116 @node Overview
33117 @section Overview
33118
33119 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
33120 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
33121 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
33122 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
33123
33124 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
33125 transmitted and received data, respectively.
33126
33127 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
33128 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
33129 @cindex remote serial protocol
33130 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
33131 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
33132 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
33133 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
33134 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
33135
33136 @smallexample
33137 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33138 @end smallexample
33139 @noindent
33140
33141 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
33142 @noindent
33143 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
33144 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
33145 eight bit unsigned checksum).
33146
33147 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
33148 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
33149
33150 @smallexample
33151 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33152 @end smallexample
33153
33154 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
33155 @noindent
33156 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
33157 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
33158 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
33159
33160 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
33161 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
33162 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
33163 retransmission):
33164
33165 @smallexample
33166 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33167 <- @code{+}
33168 @end smallexample
33169 @noindent
33170
33171 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
33172 once a connection is established.
33173 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
33174
33175 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
33176 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
33177 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
33178 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
33179 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
33180 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
33181 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
33182
33183 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
33184 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
33185 exceptions).
33186
33187 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
33188 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
33189 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
33190 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
33191
33192 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
33193 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
33194 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
33195
33196 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
33197 @anchor{Binary Data}
33198 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
33199 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
33200 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
33201 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
33202 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
33203 binary data.
33204
33205 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
33206 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
33207 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
33208 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
33209 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
33210 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
33211 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
33212 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
33213 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
33214 (described next).
33215
33216 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
33217 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
33218 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
33219 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
33220 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
33221 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
33222 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
33223 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
33224 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
33225 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
33226 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
33227 3}} more times.
33228
33229 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
33230 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
33231 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
33232 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
33233 @samp{0*"00}.
33234
33235 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
33236 error number. That number is not well defined.
33237
33238 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
33239 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
33240 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
33241 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
33242 on that response.
33243
33244 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
33245 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
33246 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
33247 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
33248 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
33249 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
33250
33251 @node Packets
33252 @section Packets
33253
33254 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
33255 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
33256 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
33257 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
33258
33259 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
33260 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
33261 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
33262 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
33263 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
33264 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
33265 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
33266 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
33267 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
33268 @var{baz}.
33269
33270 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
33271 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
33272 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
33273 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
33274 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
33275 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
33276 pick any thread.
33277
33278 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
33279 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
33280 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
33281 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
33282 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
33283 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
33284 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
33285 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
33286 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
33287 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
33288 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
33289 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
33290 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
33291
33292 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
33293 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
33294 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
33295 more information.
33296
33297 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
33298 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
33299
33300 Here are the packet descriptions.
33301
33302 @table @samp
33303
33304 @item !
33305 @cindex @samp{!} packet
33306 @anchor{extended mode}
33307 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
33308 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
33309 debugged.
33310
33311 Reply:
33312 @table @samp
33313 @item OK
33314 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
33315 @end table
33316
33317 @item ?
33318 @cindex @samp{?} packet
33319 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
33320 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
33321 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
33322
33323 Reply:
33324 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33325
33326 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
33327 @cindex @samp{A} packet
33328 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
33329 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
33330 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
33331
33332 Reply:
33333 @table @samp
33334 @item OK
33335 The arguments were set.
33336 @item E @var{NN}
33337 An error occurred.
33338 @end table
33339
33340 @item b @var{baud}
33341 @cindex @samp{b} packet
33342 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
33343 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
33344
33345 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
33346 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
33347 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
33348
33349 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
33350 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
33351 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
33352 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
33353 of view, nothing actually happened.}
33354
33355 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
33356 @cindex @samp{B} packet
33357 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
33358 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
33359
33360 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
33361 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
33362
33363 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
33364 @anchor{bc}
33365 @item bc
33366 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
33367 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33368
33369 Reply:
33370 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33371
33372 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
33373 @anchor{bs}
33374 @item bs
33375 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
33376 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33377
33378 Reply:
33379 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33380
33381 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
33382 @cindex @samp{c} packet
33383 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
33384 resume at current address.
33385
33386 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33387 packet}.
33388
33389 Reply:
33390 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33391
33392 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
33393 @cindex @samp{C} packet
33394 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
33395 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
33396
33397 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33398 packet}.
33399
33400 Reply:
33401 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33402
33403 @item d
33404 @cindex @samp{d} packet
33405 Toggle debug flag.
33406
33407 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
33408 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
33409
33410 @item D
33411 @itemx D;@var{pid}
33412 @cindex @samp{D} packet
33413 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
33414 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
33415 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
33416
33417 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
33418 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
33419 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
33420 big-endian hex string.
33421
33422 Reply:
33423 @table @samp
33424 @item OK
33425 for success
33426 @item E @var{NN}
33427 for an error
33428 @end table
33429
33430 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
33431 @cindex @samp{F} packet
33432 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
33433 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
33434 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
33435
33436 @item g
33437 @anchor{read registers packet}
33438 @cindex @samp{g} packet
33439 Read general registers.
33440
33441 Reply:
33442 @table @samp
33443 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33444 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
33445 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
33446 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
33447 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
33448 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
33449 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
33450
33451 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
33452 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
33453 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
33454 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
33455 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
33456 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
33457 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
33458 have been collected, and both have zero value:
33459
33460 @smallexample
33461 -> @code{g}
33462 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
33463 @end smallexample
33464
33465 @item E @var{NN}
33466 for an error.
33467 @end table
33468
33469 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
33470 @cindex @samp{G} packet
33471 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
33472 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
33473
33474 Reply:
33475 @table @samp
33476 @item OK
33477 for success
33478 @item E @var{NN}
33479 for an error
33480 @end table
33481
33482 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
33483 @cindex @samp{H} packet
33484 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
33485 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
33486 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
33487 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
33488 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
33489 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
33490 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
33491
33492 Reply:
33493 @table @samp
33494 @item OK
33495 for success
33496 @item E @var{NN}
33497 for an error
33498 @end table
33499
33500 @c FIXME: JTC:
33501 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
33502 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
33503 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
33504 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
33505 @c described. For example:
33506 @c
33507 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
33508 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
33509 @c otherwise returns current registers.
33510 @c
33511 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
33512 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
33513 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
33514
33515 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
33516 @anchor{cycle step packet}
33517 @cindex @samp{i} packet
33518 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
33519 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
33520 step starting at that address.
33521
33522 @item I
33523 @cindex @samp{I} packet
33524 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
33525 step packet}.
33526
33527 @item k
33528 @cindex @samp{k} packet
33529 Kill request.
33530
33531 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
33532 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
33533 thread?)}.
33534
33535 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
33536 @cindex @samp{m} packet
33537 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
33538 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
33539
33540 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
33541 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
33542 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
33543 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
33544 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
33545 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
33546 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
33547 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
33548
33549 Reply:
33550 @table @samp
33551 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33552 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
33553 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
33554 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
33555 @item E @var{NN}
33556 @var{NN} is errno
33557 @end table
33558
33559 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
33560 @cindex @samp{M} packet
33561 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
33562 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
33563 hexadecimal number.
33564
33565 Reply:
33566 @table @samp
33567 @item OK
33568 for success
33569 @item E @var{NN}
33570 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
33571 written).
33572 @end table
33573
33574 @item p @var{n}
33575 @cindex @samp{p} packet
33576 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
33577 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
33578 register value is encoded.
33579
33580 Reply:
33581 @table @samp
33582 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33583 the register's value
33584 @item E @var{NN}
33585 for an error
33586 @item
33587 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
33588 @end table
33589
33590 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
33591 @anchor{write register packet}
33592 @cindex @samp{P} packet
33593 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
33594 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
33595 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
33596
33597 Reply:
33598 @table @samp
33599 @item OK
33600 for success
33601 @item E @var{NN}
33602 for an error
33603 @end table
33604
33605 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
33606 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
33607 @cindex @samp{q} packet
33608 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
33609 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
33610 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
33611
33612 @item r
33613 @cindex @samp{r} packet
33614 Reset the entire system.
33615
33616 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
33617
33618 @item R @var{XX}
33619 @cindex @samp{R} packet
33620 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
33621 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
33622
33623 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
33624
33625 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
33626 @cindex @samp{s} packet
33627 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
33628 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
33629
33630 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33631 packet}.
33632
33633 Reply:
33634 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33635
33636 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
33637 @anchor{step with signal packet}
33638 @cindex @samp{S} packet
33639 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
33640 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
33641
33642 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33643 packet}.
33644
33645 Reply:
33646 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33647
33648 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
33649 @cindex @samp{t} packet
33650 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
33651 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
33652 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
33653
33654 @item T @var{thread-id}
33655 @cindex @samp{T} packet
33656 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
33657
33658 Reply:
33659 @table @samp
33660 @item OK
33661 thread is still alive
33662 @item E @var{NN}
33663 thread is dead
33664 @end table
33665
33666 @item v
33667 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
33668 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
33669
33670 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
33671 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
33672 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
33673 The process ID is a
33674 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
33675 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
33676 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
33677
33678 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
33679 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
33680 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
33681 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
33682 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
33683 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
33684 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
33685 @c stopping or restarting threads.
33686
33687 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
33688
33689 Reply:
33690 @table @samp
33691 @item E @var{nn}
33692 for an error
33693 @item @r{Any stop packet}
33694 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
33695 @item OK
33696 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
33697 @end table
33698
33699 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
33700 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
33701 @anchor{vCont packet}
33702 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
33703 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
33704 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
33705 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
33706 in their current state in non-stop mode.
33707 Specifying multiple
33708 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
33709 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
33710
33711 Currently supported actions are:
33712
33713 @table @samp
33714 @item c
33715 Continue.
33716 @item C @var{sig}
33717 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
33718 @item s
33719 Step.
33720 @item S @var{sig}
33721 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
33722 @item t
33723 Stop.
33724 @end table
33725
33726 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
33727 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
33728 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
33729
33730 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
33731 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
33732 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
33733 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
33734 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
33735 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
33736 as an implementation detail.
33737
33738 Reply:
33739 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33740
33741 @item vCont?
33742 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
33743 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
33744
33745 Reply:
33746 @table @samp
33747 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
33748 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
33749 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
33750 @item
33751 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
33752 @end table
33753
33754 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
33755 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
33756 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
33757 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
33758
33759 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
33760 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
33761 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
33762 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
33763 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
33764 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
33765 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
33766 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
33767 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
33768 packet is received.
33769
33770 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
33771 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
33772 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
33773 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
33774 @var{thread-id}.
33775
33776 Reply:
33777 @table @samp
33778 @item OK
33779 for success
33780 @item E @var{NN}
33781 for an error
33782 @end table
33783
33784 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
33785 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
33786 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
33787 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
33788 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
33789 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
33790 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
33791 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
33792 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
33793 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
33794 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
33795 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
33796
33797
33798 Reply:
33799 @table @samp
33800 @item OK
33801 for success
33802 @item E.memtype
33803 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
33804 @item E @var{NN}
33805 for an error
33806 @end table
33807
33808 @item vFlashDone
33809 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
33810 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
33811 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
33812 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
33813 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
33814 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
33815 request is completed.
33816
33817 @item vKill;@var{pid}
33818 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
33819 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
33820 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
33821 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
33822 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
33823
33824 Reply:
33825 @table @samp
33826 @item E @var{nn}
33827 for an error
33828 @item OK
33829 for success
33830 @end table
33831
33832 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
33833 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
33834 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
33835 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
33836 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
33837 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
33838 state.
33839
33840 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
33841
33842 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
33843
33844 Reply:
33845 @table @samp
33846 @item E @var{nn}
33847 for an error
33848 @item @r{Any stop packet}
33849 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
33850 @end table
33851
33852 @item vStopped
33853 @anchor{vStopped packet}
33854 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
33855
33856 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
33857 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
33858
33859 Reply:
33860 @table @samp
33861 @item @r{Any stop packet}
33862 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
33863 @item OK
33864 if there are no unreported stop events
33865 @end table
33866
33867 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
33868 @anchor{X packet}
33869 @cindex @samp{X} packet
33870 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
33871 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
33872 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
33873
33874 Reply:
33875 @table @samp
33876 @item OK
33877 for success
33878 @item E @var{NN}
33879 for an error
33880 @end table
33881
33882 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
33883 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
33884 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
33885 @cindex @samp{z} packet
33886 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
33887 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
33888 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
33889
33890 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
33891 separately.
33892
33893 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
33894 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
33895 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
33896 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
33897 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
33898 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
33899
33900 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
33901 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
33902 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
33903 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
33904 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
33905 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
33906
33907 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
33908 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
33909 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
33910 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
33911 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
33912 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
33913 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
33914
33915 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
33916 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
33917 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
33918 target, is not defined.}
33919
33920 Reply:
33921 @table @samp
33922 @item OK
33923 success
33924 @item
33925 not supported
33926 @item E @var{NN}
33927 for an error
33928 @end table
33929
33930 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
33931 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
33932 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
33933 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
33934 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
33935 address @var{addr}.
33936
33937 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
33938 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
33939 has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
33940
33941 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
33942 movement.}
33943
33944 Reply:
33945 @table @samp
33946 @item OK
33947 success
33948 @item
33949 not supported
33950 @item E @var{NN}
33951 for an error
33952 @end table
33953
33954 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
33955 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
33956 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
33957 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
33958 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
33959 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
33960
33961 Reply:
33962 @table @samp
33963 @item OK
33964 success
33965 @item
33966 not supported
33967 @item E @var{NN}
33968 for an error
33969 @end table
33970
33971 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
33972 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
33973 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
33974 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
33975 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
33976 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
33977
33978 Reply:
33979 @table @samp
33980 @item OK
33981 success
33982 @item
33983 not supported
33984 @item E @var{NN}
33985 for an error
33986 @end table
33987
33988 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
33989 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
33990 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
33991 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
33992 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
33993 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
33994
33995 Reply:
33996 @table @samp
33997 @item OK
33998 success
33999 @item
34000 not supported
34001 @item E @var{NN}
34002 for an error
34003 @end table
34004
34005 @end table
34006
34007 @node Stop Reply Packets
34008 @section Stop Reply Packets
34009 @cindex stop reply packets
34010
34011 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
34012 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
34013 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
34014 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
34015 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
34016 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
34017 @value{GDBN} source code.
34018
34019 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
34020 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
34021 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
34022 components.
34023
34024 @table @samp
34025
34026 @item S @var{AA}
34027 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
34028 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
34029 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
34030
34031 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
34032 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
34033 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
34034 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
34035 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
34036 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
34037 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
34038 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
34039
34040 @itemize @bullet
34041 @item
34042 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
34043 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
34044 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
34045 two-digit hex number.
34046
34047 @item
34048 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
34049 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34050
34051 @item
34052 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
34053 the core on which the stop event was detected.
34054
34055 @item
34056 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
34057 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
34058 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
34059 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
34060
34061 @item
34062 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
34063 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
34064 future.
34065 @end itemize
34066
34067 The currently defined stop reasons are:
34068
34069 @table @samp
34070 @item watch
34071 @itemx rwatch
34072 @itemx awatch
34073 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
34074 hex.
34075
34076 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
34077 @item library
34078 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
34079 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
34080 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
34081
34082 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
34083 @item replaylog
34084 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
34085 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
34086 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
34087 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
34088 for more information.
34089 @end table
34090
34091 @item W @var{AA}
34092 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
34093 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
34094 applicable to certain targets.
34095
34096 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
34097 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
34098 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
34099 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
34100
34101 @item X @var{AA}
34102 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
34103 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
34104
34105 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
34106 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
34107 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
34108 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
34109
34110 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
34111 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
34112 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
34113 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
34114 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
34115
34116 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
34117 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
34118 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
34119 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
34120 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
34121 system calls.
34122
34123 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
34124 this very system call.
34125
34126 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
34127 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
34128 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
34129 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
34130 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
34131 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
34132
34133 @end table
34134
34135 @node General Query Packets
34136 @section General Query Packets
34137 @cindex remote query requests
34138
34139 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
34140 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
34141 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
34142 sending information to and from the stub.
34143
34144 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
34145 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
34146 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
34147 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
34148 conventions:
34149
34150 @itemize @bullet
34151 @item
34152 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
34153 @item
34154 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
34155 letter.
34156 @item
34157 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
34158 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
34159 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
34160 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
34161 @end itemize
34162
34163 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
34164 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
34165 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
34166 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
34167 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
34168 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
34169 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
34170 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
34171 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
34172 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
34173 packet.}.
34174
34175 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
34176 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
34177 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
34178 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
34179 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
34180
34181 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
34182
34183 @table @samp
34184
34185 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
34186 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
34187 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
34188 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
34189 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
34190 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
34191 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
34192 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
34193 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
34194 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
34195 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
34196
34197 @item qC
34198 @cindex current thread, remote request
34199 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
34200 Return the current thread ID.
34201
34202 Reply:
34203 @table @samp
34204 @item QC @var{thread-id}
34205 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
34206 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34207 @item @r{(anything else)}
34208 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
34209 @end table
34210
34211 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
34212 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
34213 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
34214 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
34215 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
34216 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
34217 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
34218
34219 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
34220 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
34221 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
34222 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
34223 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
34224 detect trailing zeros.
34225
34226 Reply:
34227 @table @samp
34228 @item E @var{NN}
34229 An error (such as memory fault)
34230 @item C @var{crc32}
34231 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
34232 @end table
34233
34234 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
34235 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
34236 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
34237 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
34238 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
34239 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
34240 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
34241 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
34242 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
34243 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
34244 randomization.
34245
34246 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34247
34248 Reply:
34249 @table @samp
34250 @item OK
34251 The request succeeded.
34252
34253 @item E @var{nn}
34254 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34255
34256 @item
34257 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
34258 by the stub.
34259 @end table
34260
34261 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34262 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34263 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
34264 address space randomization.
34265
34266 @item qfThreadInfo
34267 @itemx qsThreadInfo
34268 @cindex list active threads, remote request
34269 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
34270 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
34271 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
34272 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
34273 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
34274 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
34275 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
34276 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
34277
34278 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
34279
34280 Reply:
34281 @table @samp
34282 @item m @var{thread-id}
34283 A single thread ID
34284 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
34285 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
34286 @item l
34287 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
34288 @end table
34289
34290 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
34291 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
34292 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
34293 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
34294 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
34295 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
34296 fields.
34297
34298 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
34299 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
34300 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
34301 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
34302 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
34303
34304 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
34305 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
34306
34307 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
34308 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
34309 information associated with the variable.)
34310
34311 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
34312 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
34313 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
34314 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
34315 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
34316 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
34317
34318 Reply:
34319 @table @samp
34320 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
34321 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
34322 local storage requested.
34323
34324 @item E @var{nn}
34325 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34326
34327 @item
34328 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
34329 @end table
34330
34331 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
34332 @cindex get thread information block address
34333 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
34334 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
34335
34336 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
34337
34338 Reply:
34339 @table @samp
34340 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
34341 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
34342 thread information block.
34343
34344 @item E @var{nn}
34345 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
34346 address could not be retrieved.
34347
34348 @item
34349 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
34350 @end table
34351
34352 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
34353 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
34354 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
34355 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
34356 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
34357 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
34358 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
34359
34360 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
34361
34362 Reply:
34363 @table @samp
34364 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
34365 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
34366 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
34367 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
34368 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
34369 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
34370 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
34371 @end table
34372
34373 @item qOffsets
34374 @cindex section offsets, remote request
34375 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
34376 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
34377 image.
34378
34379 Reply:
34380 @table @samp
34381 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
34382 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
34383 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
34384 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
34385 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
34386 segments by the supplied offsets.
34387
34388 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
34389 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
34390 to the @code{Bss} section.}
34391
34392 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
34393 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
34394 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
34395 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
34396 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
34397 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
34398 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
34399 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
34400 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
34401 @end table
34402
34403 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
34404 @cindex thread information, remote request
34405 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
34406 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
34407 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
34408 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
34409
34410 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
34411 (see below).
34412
34413 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
34414
34415 @item QNonStop:1
34416 @item QNonStop:0
34417 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
34418 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
34419 @anchor{QNonStop}
34420 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
34421 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
34422
34423 Reply:
34424 @table @samp
34425 @item OK
34426 The request succeeded.
34427
34428 @item E @var{nn}
34429 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34430
34431 @item
34432 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
34433 the stub.
34434 @end table
34435
34436 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34437 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34438 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
34439 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
34440
34441 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
34442 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
34443 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
34444 @anchor{QPassSignals}
34445 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
34446 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
34447 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
34448 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
34449 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
34450 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
34451 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
34452 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
34453 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
34454
34455 Reply:
34456 @table @samp
34457 @item OK
34458 The request succeeded.
34459
34460 @item E @var{nn}
34461 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34462
34463 @item
34464 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
34465 the stub.
34466 @end table
34467
34468 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
34469 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
34470 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34471 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34472
34473 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
34474 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
34475 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
34476 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
34477 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
34478 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
34479 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
34480 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
34481 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
34482
34483 Reply:
34484 @table @samp
34485 @item OK
34486 A command response with no output.
34487 @item @var{OUTPUT}
34488 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
34489 @item E @var{NN}
34490 Indicate a badly formed request.
34491 @item
34492 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
34493 @end table
34494
34495 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
34496 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
34497 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
34498 packets.)
34499
34500 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
34501 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
34502 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
34503 @anchor{qSearch memory}
34504 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
34505 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
34506 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
34507
34508 Reply:
34509 @table @samp
34510 @item 0
34511 The pattern was not found.
34512 @item 1,address
34513 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
34514 @item E @var{NN}
34515 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
34516 @item
34517 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
34518 @end table
34519
34520 @item QStartNoAckMode
34521 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
34522 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
34523 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
34524 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
34525
34526 Reply:
34527 @table @samp
34528 @item OK
34529 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
34530 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
34531 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
34532 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
34533 @item
34534 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
34535 @end table
34536
34537 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
34538 @cindex supported packets, remote query
34539 @cindex features of the remote protocol
34540 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
34541 @anchor{qSupported}
34542 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
34543 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
34544 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
34545 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
34546 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
34547 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
34548 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
34549 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
34550 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
34551 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
34552 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
34553 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
34554 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
34555 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
34556
34557 Reply:
34558 @table @samp
34559 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
34560 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
34561 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
34562 possible forms).
34563 @item
34564 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
34565 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
34566 @end table
34567
34568 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
34569 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
34570 are:
34571
34572 @table @samp
34573 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
34574 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
34575 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
34576 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
34577 @item @var{name}+
34578 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
34579 need an associated value.
34580 @item @var{name}-
34581 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
34582 @item @var{name}?
34583 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
34584 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
34585 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
34586 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
34587 @end table
34588
34589 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
34590 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
34591 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
34592 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
34593 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
34594
34595 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
34596 are defined:
34597
34598 @table @samp
34599 @item multiprocess
34600 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
34601 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
34602 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
34603 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
34604 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
34605
34606 @item xmlRegisters
34607 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
34608 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
34609 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
34610 description.
34611
34612 @item qRelocInsn
34613 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
34614 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
34615 instruction reply packet}).
34616 @end table
34617
34618 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
34619 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
34620 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
34621 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
34622 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
34623 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
34624 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
34625 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
34626 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
34627 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
34628 all the features it supports.
34629
34630 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
34631 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
34632
34633 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
34634 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
34635 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
34636 form response.
34637
34638 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
34639 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
34640 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
34641 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
34642
34643 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
34644 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
34645 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
34646 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
34647 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
34648
34649 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
34650
34651 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
34652 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
34653 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
34654 @item Feature Name
34655 @tab Value Required
34656 @tab Default
34657 @tab Probe Allowed
34658
34659 @item @samp{PacketSize}
34660 @tab Yes
34661 @tab @samp{-}
34662 @tab No
34663
34664 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
34665 @tab No
34666 @tab @samp{-}
34667 @tab Yes
34668
34669 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
34670 @tab No
34671 @tab @samp{-}
34672 @tab Yes
34673
34674 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
34675 @tab No
34676 @tab @samp{-}
34677 @tab Yes
34678
34679 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
34680 @tab No
34681 @tab @samp{-}
34682 @tab Yes
34683
34684 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
34685 @tab No
34686 @tab @samp{-}
34687 @tab Yes
34688
34689 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
34690 @tab No
34691 @tab @samp{-}
34692 @tab Yes
34693
34694 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
34695 @tab No
34696 @tab @samp{-}
34697 @tab Yes
34698
34699 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
34700 @tab No
34701 @tab @samp{-}
34702 @tab Yes
34703
34704 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
34705 @tab No
34706 @tab @samp{-}
34707 @tab Yes
34708
34709 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
34710 @tab No
34711 @tab @samp{-}
34712 @tab Yes
34713
34714 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
34715 @tab No
34716 @tab @samp{-}
34717 @tab Yes
34718
34719 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
34720 @tab No
34721 @tab @samp{-}
34722 @tab Yes
34723
34724 @item @samp{QNonStop}
34725 @tab No
34726 @tab @samp{-}
34727 @tab Yes
34728
34729 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
34730 @tab No
34731 @tab @samp{-}
34732 @tab Yes
34733
34734 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
34735 @tab No
34736 @tab @samp{-}
34737 @tab Yes
34738
34739 @item @samp{multiprocess}
34740 @tab No
34741 @tab @samp{-}
34742 @tab No
34743
34744 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
34745 @tab No
34746 @tab @samp{-}
34747 @tab No
34748
34749 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
34750 @tab No
34751 @tab @samp{-}
34752 @tab No
34753
34754 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
34755 @tab No
34756 @tab @samp{-}
34757 @tab No
34758
34759 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
34760 @tab No
34761 @tab @samp{-}
34762 @tab No
34763
34764 @item @samp{QAllow}
34765 @tab No
34766 @tab @samp{-}
34767 @tab No
34768
34769 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
34770 @tab No
34771 @tab @samp{-}
34772 @tab No
34773
34774 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
34775 @tab No
34776 @tab @samp{-}
34777 @tab No
34778
34779 @item @samp{tracenz}
34780 @tab No
34781 @tab @samp{-}
34782 @tab No
34783
34784 @end multitable
34785
34786 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
34787
34788 @table @samp
34789 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
34790 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
34791 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
34792 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
34793 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
34794 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
34795 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
34796 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
34797 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
34798 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
34799
34800 @item qXfer:auxv:read
34801 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
34802 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
34803
34804 @item qXfer:features:read
34805 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
34806 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
34807
34808 @item qXfer:libraries:read
34809 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
34810 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
34811
34812 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
34813 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
34814 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
34815
34816 @item qXfer:sdata:read
34817 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
34818 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
34819
34820 @item qXfer:spu:read
34821 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
34822 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
34823
34824 @item qXfer:spu:write
34825 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
34826 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
34827
34828 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
34829 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
34830 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
34831
34832 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
34833 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
34834 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
34835
34836 @item qXfer:threads:read
34837 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
34838 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
34839
34840 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
34841 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
34842 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
34843
34844 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
34845 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
34846 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
34847
34848 @item QNonStop
34849 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
34850 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
34851
34852 @item QPassSignals
34853 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
34854 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
34855
34856 @item QStartNoAckMode
34857 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
34858 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
34859
34860 @item multiprocess
34861 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
34862 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
34863 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
34864 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
34865 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
34866 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
34867 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
34868 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
34869 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
34870 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
34871 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
34872
34873 @item qXfer:osdata:read
34874 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
34875 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
34876
34877 @item ConditionalTracepoints
34878 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
34879 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
34880
34881 @item ReverseContinue
34882 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
34883 (@pxref{bc}).
34884
34885 @item ReverseStep
34886 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
34887 (@pxref{bs}).
34888
34889 @item TracepointSource
34890 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
34891 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
34892
34893 @item QAllow
34894 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
34895
34896 @item QDisableRandomization
34897 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
34898
34899 @item StaticTracepoint
34900 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
34901 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
34902
34903 @item InstallInTrace
34904 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
34905 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
34906
34907 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
34908 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
34909 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
34910 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
34911
34912 @item tracenz
34913 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
34914 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
34915 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
34916
34917 @end table
34918
34919 @item qSymbol::
34920 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
34921 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
34922 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
34923 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
34924
34925 Reply:
34926 @table @samp
34927 @item OK
34928 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
34929 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
34930 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
34931 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
34932 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
34933 below.
34934 @end table
34935
34936 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
34937 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
34938
34939 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
34940 target has previously requested.
34941
34942 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
34943 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
34944 will be empty.
34945
34946 Reply:
34947 @table @samp
34948 @item OK
34949 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
34950 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
34951 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
34952 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
34953 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
34954 @end table
34955
34956 @item qTBuffer
34957 @item QTBuffer
34958 @item QTDisconnected
34959 @itemx QTDP
34960 @itemx QTDPsrc
34961 @itemx QTDV
34962 @itemx qTfP
34963 @itemx qTfV
34964 @itemx QTFrame
34965 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
34966
34967 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
34968
34969 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
34970 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
34971 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
34972 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
34973 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
34974 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
34975 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
34976 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
34977 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
34978 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
34979 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
34980
34981 Reply:
34982 @table @samp
34983 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
34984 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
34985 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
34986 the thread's attributes.
34987 @end table
34988
34989 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
34990 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
34991 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
34992 packets.)
34993
34994 @item QTSave
34995 @item qTsP
34996 @item qTsV
34997 @itemx QTStart
34998 @itemx QTStop
34999 @itemx QTEnable
35000 @itemx QTDisable
35001 @itemx QTinit
35002 @itemx QTro
35003 @itemx qTStatus
35004 @itemx qTV
35005 @itemx qTfSTM
35006 @itemx qTsSTM
35007 @itemx qTSTMat
35008 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
35009
35010 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35011 @cindex read special object, remote request
35012 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
35013 @anchor{qXfer read}
35014 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
35015 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
35016 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
35017 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
35018 additional details about what data to access.
35019
35020 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
35021 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
35022 formats, listed below.
35023
35024 @table @samp
35025 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35026 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
35027 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
35028 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
35029
35030 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35031 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35032
35033 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35034 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
35035 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
35036 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
35037 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
35038
35039 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35040 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35041
35042 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35043 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
35044 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
35045 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35046 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35047
35048 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
35049 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
35050 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
35051
35052 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35053 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35054
35055 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35056 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
35057 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
35058 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35059 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35060
35061 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35062 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35063
35064 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35065 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
35066
35067 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
35068 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
35069 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
35070 Action Lists}.
35071
35072 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35073 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35074 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35075
35076 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35077 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
35078 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
35079 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
35080 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35081
35082 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35083 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35084 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35085
35086 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35087 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
35088 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
35089 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
35090 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
35091 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
35092 in that context to be accessed.
35093
35094 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35095 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35096 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35097
35098 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35099 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
35100 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
35101 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35102 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35103
35104 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35105 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35106
35107 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35108 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
35109
35110 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
35111 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
35112 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35113
35114 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35115 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35116
35117 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35118 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
35119 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
35120 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
35121 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
35122
35123 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35124 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35125
35126 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35127 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
35128 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
35129 @xref{Operating System Information}.
35130
35131 @end table
35132
35133 Reply:
35134 @table @samp
35135 @item m @var{data}
35136 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
35137 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
35138 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
35139 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
35140 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
35141 request.
35142
35143 @item l @var{data}
35144 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
35145 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
35146 than the @var{length} in the request.
35147
35148 @item l
35149 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
35150 There is no more data to be read.
35151
35152 @item E00
35153 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
35154
35155 @item E @var{nn}
35156 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
35157 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
35158
35159 @item
35160 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
35161 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
35162 @end table
35163
35164 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35165 @cindex write data into object, remote request
35166 @anchor{qXfer write}
35167 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
35168 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
35169 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
35170 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
35171 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
35172 to access.
35173
35174 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
35175 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
35176 formats, listed below.
35177
35178 @table @samp
35179 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35180 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
35181 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
35182 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
35183 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
35184
35185 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35186 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35187 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35188
35189 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35190 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
35191 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
35192 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
35193 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
35194 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
35195 in that context to be accessed.
35196
35197 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35198 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35199 @end table
35200
35201 Reply:
35202 @table @samp
35203 @item @var{nn}
35204 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
35205 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
35206
35207 @item E00
35208 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
35209
35210 @item E @var{nn}
35211 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
35212 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
35213
35214 @item
35215 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
35216 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
35217 @end table
35218
35219 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
35220 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
35221 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
35222 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
35223 must respond with an empty packet.
35224
35225 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
35226 @cindex query attached, remote request
35227 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
35228 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
35229 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
35230 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
35231 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
35232 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
35233 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
35234
35235 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
35236 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
35237 the @code{quit} command.
35238
35239 Reply:
35240 @table @samp
35241 @item 1
35242 The remote server attached to an existing process.
35243 @item 0
35244 The remote server created a new process.
35245 @item E @var{NN}
35246 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
35247 @end table
35248
35249 @end table
35250
35251 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
35252 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
35253
35254 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
35255 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
35256 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
35257
35258 @subsection ARM
35259
35260 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
35261
35262 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
35263
35264 @table @r
35265
35266 @item 2
35267 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
35268
35269 @item 3
35270 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
35271
35272 @item 4
35273 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
35274
35275 @end table
35276
35277 @subsection MIPS
35278
35279 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
35280
35281 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
35282 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
35283 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
35284 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
35285 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
35286 most-significant - least-significant.
35287
35288 @table @r
35289
35290 @item MIPS32
35291
35292 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
35293 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
35294 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
35295
35296 @item MIPS64
35297
35298 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
35299 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
35300 as @code{MIPS32}.
35301
35302 @end table
35303
35304 @node Tracepoint Packets
35305 @section Tracepoint Packets
35306 @cindex tracepoint packets
35307 @cindex packets, tracepoint
35308
35309 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
35310 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
35311
35312 @table @samp
35313
35314 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
35315 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
35316 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
35317 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
35318 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
35319 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
35320 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
35321 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
35322 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
35323 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
35324 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
35325 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
35326 actions.
35327
35328 Replies:
35329 @table @samp
35330 @item OK
35331 The packet was understood and carried out.
35332 @item qRelocInsn
35333 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
35334 @item
35335 The packet was not recognized.
35336 @end table
35337
35338 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
35339 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
35340 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
35341 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
35342 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
35343 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
35344 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
35345
35346 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
35347 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
35348 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
35349 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
35350 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
35351 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
35352 tracepoint actions.
35353
35354 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
35355 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
35356 following forms:
35357
35358 @table @samp
35359
35360 @item R @var{mask}
35361 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
35362 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
35363 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
35364 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
35365 not fit in a 32-bit word.
35366
35367 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
35368 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
35369 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
35370 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
35371 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
35372 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
35373 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
35374
35375 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35376 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
35377 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
35378 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
35379 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
35380 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
35381 packet).
35382
35383 @end table
35384
35385 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
35386 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
35387 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
35388 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
35389 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
35390 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
35391 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
35392 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
35393
35394 Replies:
35395 @table @samp
35396 @item OK
35397 The packet was understood and carried out.
35398 @item qRelocInsn
35399 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
35400 @item
35401 The packet was not recognized.
35402 @end table
35403
35404 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
35405 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
35406 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
35407 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
35408 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
35409 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
35410 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
35411 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
35412
35413 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
35414 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
35415 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
35416 fit in a single packet.
35417 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
35418 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
35419
35420 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
35421 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
35422 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
35423 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
35424
35425 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
35426 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
35427 query packets.
35428
35429 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
35430 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
35431 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
35432 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
35433 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
35434 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
35435 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
35436 be found.
35437
35438 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
35439 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
35440 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
35441 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
35442 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
35443 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
35444 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
35445 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
35446 mentioned in expressions.
35447
35448 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
35449 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
35450 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
35451 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
35452
35453 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
35454 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
35455 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
35456 one of the following forms:
35457
35458 @table @samp
35459 @item F @var{f}
35460 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
35461 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
35462 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
35463
35464 @item T @var{t}
35465 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
35466 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
35467
35468 @end table
35469
35470 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
35471 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35472 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
35473 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
35474
35475 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
35476 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35477 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
35478 is a hexadecimal number.
35479
35480 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
35481 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35482 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
35483 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
35484 numbers.
35485
35486 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
35487 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
35488 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
35489
35490 @item qTMinFTPILen
35491 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
35492 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
35493 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
35494 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
35495 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
35496 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
35497 arrange for that.
35498
35499 Replies:
35500
35501 @table @samp
35502 @item 0
35503 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
35504 @item @var{length}
35505 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
35506 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
35507 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
35508 @item E
35509 An error has occurred.
35510 @item
35511 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
35512 @end table
35513
35514 @item QTStart
35515 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
35516 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
35517 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
35518 instruction reply packet}).
35519
35520 @item QTStop
35521 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
35522
35523 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
35524 @anchor{QTEnable}
35525 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
35526 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
35527 of data from it will resume.
35528
35529 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
35530 @anchor{QTDisable}
35531 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
35532 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
35533 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
35534
35535 @item QTinit
35536 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
35537
35538 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
35539 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
35540 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
35541 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
35542
35543 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
35544 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
35545 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
35546 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
35547
35548 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
35549 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
35550 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
35551 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
35552 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
35553
35554 @item qTStatus
35555 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
35556
35557 The reply has the form:
35558
35559 @table @samp
35560
35561 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
35562 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
35563 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
35564 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
35565
35566 @end table
35567
35568 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
35569 explanations as one of the optional fields:
35570
35571 @table @samp
35572
35573 @item tnotrun:0
35574 No trace has been run yet.
35575
35576 @item tstop:0
35577 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command.
35578
35579 @item tfull:0
35580 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
35581
35582 @item tdisconnected:0
35583 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
35584
35585 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
35586 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
35587
35588 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
35589 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
35590 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
35591 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
35592 @var{text} is hex encoded.
35593
35594 @item tunknown:0
35595 The trace stopped for some other reason.
35596
35597 @end table
35598
35599 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
35600 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
35601 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
35602 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
35603 trace.
35604
35605 @table @samp
35606
35607 @item tframes:@var{n}
35608 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
35609
35610 @item tcreated:@var{n}
35611 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
35612 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
35613
35614 @item tsize:@var{n}
35615 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
35616
35617 @item tfree:@var{n}
35618 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
35619
35620 @item circular:@var{n}
35621 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
35622 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
35623 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
35624 and may fill up.
35625
35626 @item disconn:@var{n}
35627 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
35628 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
35629 that the trace run will stop.
35630
35631 @end table
35632
35633 @item qTV:@var{var}
35634 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
35635 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
35636 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
35637
35638 Replies:
35639 @table @samp
35640 @item V@var{value}
35641 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
35642 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
35643 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
35644 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
35645 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
35646 program is running.
35647
35648 @item U
35649 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
35650 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
35651 was not collected.
35652 @end table
35653
35654 @item qTfP
35655 @itemx qTsP
35656 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
35657 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
35658 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
35659 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
35660 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
35661
35662 @item qTfV
35663 @itemx qTsV
35664 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
35665 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
35666 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
35667 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
35668 trace state variables.
35669
35670 @item qTfSTM
35671 @itemx qTsSTM
35672 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
35673 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
35674 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
35675 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
35676
35677 Reply:
35678 @table @samp
35679 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
35680 A single marker
35681 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
35682 a comma-separated list of markers
35683 @item l
35684 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
35685 @item E @var{nn}
35686 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
35687 @item
35688 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
35689 stub.
35690 @end table
35691
35692 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
35693 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
35694
35695 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
35696 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
35697 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
35698 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
35699 @dfn{last}).
35700
35701 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
35702 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
35703 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
35704 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
35705 tracepoint markers.
35706
35707 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
35708 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
35709 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
35710 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
35711 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
35712
35713 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
35714 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
35715 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
35716 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
35717 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
35718 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
35719 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
35720 available.
35721
35722 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
35723 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
35724 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
35725
35726 @end table
35727
35728 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
35729 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
35730 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
35731 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
35732 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
35733 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
35734 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
35735 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
35736 it had executed in the original location.
35737
35738 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
35739 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
35740 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
35741 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
35742 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
35743 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
35744 format of the request is:
35745
35746 @table @samp
35747 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
35748
35749 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
35750 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
35751 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
35752 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
35753 memory starting at @var{to}.
35754 @end table
35755
35756 Replies:
35757 @table @samp
35758 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
35759 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
35760 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
35761 @item E @var{NN}
35762 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
35763 relocating the instruction.
35764 @end table
35765
35766 @node Host I/O Packets
35767 @section Host I/O Packets
35768 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
35769 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
35770
35771 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
35772 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
35773 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
35774 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
35775 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
35776 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
35777 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
35778 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
35779 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
35780 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
35781
35782 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
35783 its arguments. They have this format:
35784
35785 @table @samp
35786
35787 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
35788 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
35789 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
35790 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
35791 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
35792 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
35793 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
35794 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
35795 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
35796
35797 @end table
35798
35799 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
35800
35801 @table @samp
35802
35803 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
35804 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
35805 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
35806 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
35807 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
35808 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
35809 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
35810 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
35811 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
35812 @var{attachment}.
35813
35814 @item
35815 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
35816
35817 @end table
35818
35819 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
35820
35821 @table @samp
35822 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
35823 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
35824 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
35825 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
35826 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
35827 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
35828 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
35829
35830 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
35831 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
35832 -1 if an error occurs.
35833
35834 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
35835 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
35836 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
35837 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
35838 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
35839 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
35840 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
35841 @var{count} was zero.
35842
35843 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
35844 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
35845 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
35846 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
35847 some characters were escaped.
35848
35849 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
35850 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
35851 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
35852 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
35853 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
35854 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
35855 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
35856 error occurred.
35857
35858 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
35859 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
35860 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
35861
35862 @end table
35863
35864 @node Interrupts
35865 @section Interrupts
35866 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
35867
35868 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
35869 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
35870 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
35871 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
35872
35873 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
35874 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
35875 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
35876 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
35877 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
35878
35879 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
35880 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
35881 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
35882 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
35883 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
35884 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
35885 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
35886 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
35887
35888 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
35889 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
35890 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
35891
35892 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
35893 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
35894 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
35895 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
35896 currently-executing threads and processes.
35897 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
35898 running program, it should send one of the stop
35899 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
35900 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
35901 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
35902 Interrupts received while the
35903 program is stopped are discarded.
35904
35905 @node Notification Packets
35906 @section Notification Packets
35907 @cindex notification packets
35908 @cindex packets, notification
35909
35910 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
35911 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
35912 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
35913 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
35914 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
35915 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
35916 is not a problem.
35917
35918 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
35919 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
35920 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
35921 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
35922 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
35923 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
35924 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
35925
35926 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
35927 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
35928
35929 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
35930 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
35931 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
35932 not they understand it.
35933
35934 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
35935 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
35936 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
35937 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
35938 recipients.
35939
35940 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
35941 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
35942 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
35943 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
35944 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
35945
35946 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
35947 defined:
35948
35949 @table @samp
35950 @item Stop: @var{reply}
35951 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
35952 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
35953 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
35954 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
35955 @value{GDBN}.
35956 @end table
35957
35958 @node Remote Non-Stop
35959 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
35960
35961 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
35962 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
35963 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
35964 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35965
35966 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
35967 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
35968 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
35969 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
35970 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
35971 probe the target state after a mode change.
35972
35973 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
35974 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
35975 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
35976 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
35977 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
35978 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
35979 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
35980 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
35981 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
35982 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
35983 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
35984
35985 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
35986 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
35987 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
35988 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
35989 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
35990 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
35991 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
35992 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
35993 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
35994 sending any queued stop events.
35995
35996 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
35997 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
35998 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
35999 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
36000 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
36001 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
36002 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
36003
36004 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
36005 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
36006 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
36007 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
36008 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
36009 process normally.
36010
36011 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
36012 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
36013 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
36014 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
36015 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
36016 should process normally.
36017
36018 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
36019 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
36020 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
36021 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
36022 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
36023
36024 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
36025 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
36026 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
36027 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
36028 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
36029 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
36030 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
36031 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
36032 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
36033 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
36034 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
36035 @samp{OK}.
36036
36037 @node Packet Acknowledgment
36038 @section Packet Acknowledgment
36039
36040 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
36041 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
36042 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
36043 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
36044 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
36045 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
36046 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
36047
36048 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
36049 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
36050 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
36051 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
36052 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
36053
36054 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
36055 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
36056 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
36057 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
36058
36059 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
36060 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
36061 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
36062 @pxref{qSupported}.
36063 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
36064 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
36065 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
36066 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
36067 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
36068 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
36069 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
36070
36071 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
36072 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
36073 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
36074 connection.
36075 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
36076 new connection is established,
36077 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
36078 for the current connection, once disabled.
36079
36080 @node Examples
36081 @section Examples
36082
36083 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
36084 does not get any direct output:
36085
36086 @smallexample
36087 -> @code{R00}
36088 <- @code{+}
36089 @emph{target restarts}
36090 -> @code{?}
36091 <- @code{+}
36092 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
36093 -> @code{+}
36094 @end smallexample
36095
36096 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
36097
36098 @smallexample
36099 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
36100 <- @code{+}
36101 -> @code{s}
36102 <- @code{+}
36103 @emph{time passes}
36104 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
36105 -> @code{+}
36106 -> @code{g}
36107 <- @code{+}
36108 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
36109 -> @code{+}
36110 @end smallexample
36111
36112 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
36113 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
36114 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
36115
36116 @menu
36117 * File-I/O Overview::
36118 * Protocol Basics::
36119 * The F Request Packet::
36120 * The F Reply Packet::
36121 * The Ctrl-C Message::
36122 * Console I/O::
36123 * List of Supported Calls::
36124 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
36125 * Constants::
36126 * File-I/O Examples::
36127 @end menu
36128
36129 @node File-I/O Overview
36130 @subsection File-I/O Overview
36131 @cindex file-i/o overview
36132
36133 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
36134 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
36135 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
36136 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
36137 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
36138 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
36139
36140 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
36141 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
36142 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
36143 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
36144 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
36145
36146 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
36147 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
36148 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
36149 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
36150 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
36151 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
36152 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
36153
36154 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
36155 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
36156 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
36157 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
36158 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
36159
36160 @smallexample
36161 (@value{GDBP}) continue
36162 <- target requests 'system call X'
36163 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
36164 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
36165 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
36166 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
36167 @end smallexample
36168
36169 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
36170 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
36171 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
36172 system are not supported by this protocol.
36173
36174 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
36175
36176 @node Protocol Basics
36177 @subsection Protocol Basics
36178 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
36179
36180 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
36181 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
36182 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
36183 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
36184 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
36185 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
36186 to call the appropriate host system call:
36187
36188 @itemize @bullet
36189 @item
36190 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
36191
36192 @item
36193 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
36194 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
36195 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
36196 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
36197
36198 @end itemize
36199
36200 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
36201
36202 @itemize @bullet
36203 @item
36204 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
36205 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
36206 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
36207 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
36208 packet.
36209
36210 @item
36211 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
36212 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
36213
36214 @item
36215 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
36216
36217 @item
36218 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
36219
36220 @item
36221 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
36222 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
36223 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
36224 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
36225 packet.
36226
36227 @end itemize
36228
36229 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
36230 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
36231
36232 @itemize @bullet
36233 @item
36234 Return value.
36235
36236 @item
36237 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
36238
36239 @item
36240 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
36241
36242 @end itemize
36243
36244 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
36245 the latest continue or step action.
36246
36247 @node The F Request Packet
36248 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
36249 @cindex file-i/o request packet
36250 @cindex @code{F} request packet
36251
36252 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
36253
36254 @table @samp
36255 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
36256
36257 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
36258 This is just the name of the function.
36259
36260 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
36261 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
36262 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
36263 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
36264 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
36265 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
36266 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
36267
36268 @end table
36269
36270
36271
36272 @node The F Reply Packet
36273 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
36274 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
36275 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
36276
36277 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
36278
36279 @table @samp
36280
36281 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
36282
36283 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
36284
36285 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
36286 representation.
36287 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
36288
36289 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
36290 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
36291 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
36292
36293 @smallexample
36294 F0,0,C
36295 @end smallexample
36296
36297 @noindent
36298 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
36299
36300 @smallexample
36301 F-1,4,C
36302 @end smallexample
36303
36304 @noindent
36305 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
36306
36307 @end table
36308
36309
36310 @node The Ctrl-C Message
36311 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
36312 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
36313
36314 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
36315 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
36316 the target should behave as if it had
36317 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
36318 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
36319 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
36320 packet.
36321
36322 It's important for the target to know in which
36323 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
36324
36325 @itemize @bullet
36326 @item
36327 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
36328
36329 @item
36330 The system call on the host has been finished.
36331
36332 @end itemize
36333
36334 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
36335 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
36336 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
36337 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
36338 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
36339 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
36340
36341 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
36342 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
36343 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
36344 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
36345 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
36346 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
36347 or the full action has been completed.
36348
36349 @node Console I/O
36350 @subsection Console I/O
36351 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
36352
36353 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
36354 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
36355 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
36356 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
36357 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
36358 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
36359 conditions is met:
36360
36361 @itemize @bullet
36362 @item
36363 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
36364 @code{read}
36365 system call is treated as finished.
36366
36367 @item
36368 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
36369 newline.
36370
36371 @item
36372 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
36373 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
36374
36375 @end itemize
36376
36377 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
36378 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
36379 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
36380 is stopped at the user's request.
36381
36382
36383 @node List of Supported Calls
36384 @subsection List of Supported Calls
36385 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
36386
36387 @menu
36388 * open::
36389 * close::
36390 * read::
36391 * write::
36392 * lseek::
36393 * rename::
36394 * unlink::
36395 * stat/fstat::
36396 * gettimeofday::
36397 * isatty::
36398 * system::
36399 @end menu
36400
36401 @node open
36402 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
36403 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
36404
36405 @table @asis
36406 @item Synopsis:
36407 @smallexample
36408 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
36409 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
36410 @end smallexample
36411
36412 @item Request:
36413 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
36414
36415 @noindent
36416 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
36417
36418 @table @code
36419 @item O_CREAT
36420 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
36421 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
36422 are concerned.
36423
36424 @item O_EXCL
36425 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
36426 an error and open() fails.
36427
36428 @item O_TRUNC
36429 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
36430 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
36431 truncated to zero length.
36432
36433 @item O_APPEND
36434 The file is opened in append mode.
36435
36436 @item O_RDONLY
36437 The file is opened for reading only.
36438
36439 @item O_WRONLY
36440 The file is opened for writing only.
36441
36442 @item O_RDWR
36443 The file is opened for reading and writing.
36444 @end table
36445
36446 @noindent
36447 Other bits are silently ignored.
36448
36449
36450 @noindent
36451 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
36452
36453 @table @code
36454 @item S_IRUSR
36455 User has read permission.
36456
36457 @item S_IWUSR
36458 User has write permission.
36459
36460 @item S_IRGRP
36461 Group has read permission.
36462
36463 @item S_IWGRP
36464 Group has write permission.
36465
36466 @item S_IROTH
36467 Others have read permission.
36468
36469 @item S_IWOTH
36470 Others have write permission.
36471 @end table
36472
36473 @noindent
36474 Other bits are silently ignored.
36475
36476
36477 @item Return value:
36478 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
36479 occurred.
36480
36481 @item Errors:
36482
36483 @table @code
36484 @item EEXIST
36485 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
36486
36487 @item EISDIR
36488 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
36489
36490 @item EACCES
36491 The requested access is not allowed.
36492
36493 @item ENAMETOOLONG
36494 @var{pathname} was too long.
36495
36496 @item ENOENT
36497 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
36498
36499 @item ENODEV
36500 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
36501
36502 @item EROFS
36503 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
36504 write access was requested.
36505
36506 @item EFAULT
36507 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
36508
36509 @item ENOSPC
36510 No space on device to create the file.
36511
36512 @item EMFILE
36513 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
36514
36515 @item ENFILE
36516 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
36517 has been reached.
36518
36519 @item EINTR
36520 The call was interrupted by the user.
36521 @end table
36522
36523 @end table
36524
36525 @node close
36526 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
36527 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
36528
36529 @table @asis
36530 @item Synopsis:
36531 @smallexample
36532 int close(int fd);
36533 @end smallexample
36534
36535 @item Request:
36536 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
36537
36538 @item Return value:
36539 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
36540
36541 @item Errors:
36542
36543 @table @code
36544 @item EBADF
36545 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
36546
36547 @item EINTR
36548 The call was interrupted by the user.
36549 @end table
36550
36551 @end table
36552
36553 @node read
36554 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
36555 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
36556
36557 @table @asis
36558 @item Synopsis:
36559 @smallexample
36560 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
36561 @end smallexample
36562
36563 @item Request:
36564 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
36565
36566 @item Return value:
36567 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
36568 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
36569 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
36570
36571 @item Errors:
36572
36573 @table @code
36574 @item EBADF
36575 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
36576 reading.
36577
36578 @item EFAULT
36579 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
36580
36581 @item EINTR
36582 The call was interrupted by the user.
36583 @end table
36584
36585 @end table
36586
36587 @node write
36588 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
36589 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
36590
36591 @table @asis
36592 @item Synopsis:
36593 @smallexample
36594 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
36595 @end smallexample
36596
36597 @item Request:
36598 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
36599
36600 @item Return value:
36601 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
36602 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
36603 is returned.
36604
36605 @item Errors:
36606
36607 @table @code
36608 @item EBADF
36609 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
36610 writing.
36611
36612 @item EFAULT
36613 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
36614
36615 @item EFBIG
36616 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
36617 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
36618
36619 @item ENOSPC
36620 No space on device to write the data.
36621
36622 @item EINTR
36623 The call was interrupted by the user.
36624 @end table
36625
36626 @end table
36627
36628 @node lseek
36629 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
36630 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
36631
36632 @table @asis
36633 @item Synopsis:
36634 @smallexample
36635 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
36636 @end smallexample
36637
36638 @item Request:
36639 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
36640
36641 @var{flag} is one of:
36642
36643 @table @code
36644 @item SEEK_SET
36645 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
36646
36647 @item SEEK_CUR
36648 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
36649 bytes.
36650
36651 @item SEEK_END
36652 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
36653 bytes.
36654 @end table
36655
36656 @item Return value:
36657 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
36658 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
36659 value of -1 is returned.
36660
36661 @item Errors:
36662
36663 @table @code
36664 @item EBADF
36665 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
36666
36667 @item ESPIPE
36668 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
36669
36670 @item EINVAL
36671 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
36672
36673 @item EINTR
36674 The call was interrupted by the user.
36675 @end table
36676
36677 @end table
36678
36679 @node rename
36680 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
36681 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
36682
36683 @table @asis
36684 @item Synopsis:
36685 @smallexample
36686 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
36687 @end smallexample
36688
36689 @item Request:
36690 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
36691
36692 @item Return value:
36693 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
36694
36695 @item Errors:
36696
36697 @table @code
36698 @item EISDIR
36699 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
36700 directory.
36701
36702 @item EEXIST
36703 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
36704
36705 @item EBUSY
36706 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
36707 process.
36708
36709 @item EINVAL
36710 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
36711 of itself.
36712
36713 @item ENOTDIR
36714 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
36715 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
36716 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
36717
36718 @item EFAULT
36719 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
36720
36721 @item EACCES
36722 No access to the file or the path of the file.
36723
36724 @item ENAMETOOLONG
36725
36726 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
36727
36728 @item ENOENT
36729 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
36730
36731 @item EROFS
36732 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
36733
36734 @item ENOSPC
36735 The device containing the file has no room for the new
36736 directory entry.
36737
36738 @item EINTR
36739 The call was interrupted by the user.
36740 @end table
36741
36742 @end table
36743
36744 @node unlink
36745 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
36746 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
36747
36748 @table @asis
36749 @item Synopsis:
36750 @smallexample
36751 int unlink(const char *pathname);
36752 @end smallexample
36753
36754 @item Request:
36755 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
36756
36757 @item Return value:
36758 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
36759
36760 @item Errors:
36761
36762 @table @code
36763 @item EACCES
36764 No access to the file or the path of the file.
36765
36766 @item EPERM
36767 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
36768
36769 @item EBUSY
36770 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
36771 being used by another process.
36772
36773 @item EFAULT
36774 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
36775
36776 @item ENAMETOOLONG
36777 @var{pathname} was too long.
36778
36779 @item ENOENT
36780 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
36781
36782 @item ENOTDIR
36783 A component of the path is not a directory.
36784
36785 @item EROFS
36786 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
36787
36788 @item EINTR
36789 The call was interrupted by the user.
36790 @end table
36791
36792 @end table
36793
36794 @node stat/fstat
36795 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
36796 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
36797 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
36798
36799 @table @asis
36800 @item Synopsis:
36801 @smallexample
36802 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
36803 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
36804 @end smallexample
36805
36806 @item Request:
36807 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
36808 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
36809
36810 @item Return value:
36811 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
36812
36813 @item Errors:
36814
36815 @table @code
36816 @item EBADF
36817 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
36818
36819 @item ENOENT
36820 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
36821 path is an empty string.
36822
36823 @item ENOTDIR
36824 A component of the path is not a directory.
36825
36826 @item EFAULT
36827 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
36828
36829 @item EACCES
36830 No access to the file or the path of the file.
36831
36832 @item ENAMETOOLONG
36833 @var{pathname} was too long.
36834
36835 @item EINTR
36836 The call was interrupted by the user.
36837 @end table
36838
36839 @end table
36840
36841 @node gettimeofday
36842 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
36843 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
36844
36845 @table @asis
36846 @item Synopsis:
36847 @smallexample
36848 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
36849 @end smallexample
36850
36851 @item Request:
36852 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
36853
36854 @item Return value:
36855 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
36856
36857 @item Errors:
36858
36859 @table @code
36860 @item EINVAL
36861 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
36862
36863 @item EFAULT
36864 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
36865 @end table
36866
36867 @end table
36868
36869 @node isatty
36870 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
36871 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
36872
36873 @table @asis
36874 @item Synopsis:
36875 @smallexample
36876 int isatty(int fd);
36877 @end smallexample
36878
36879 @item Request:
36880 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
36881
36882 @item Return value:
36883 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
36884
36885 @item Errors:
36886
36887 @table @code
36888 @item EINTR
36889 The call was interrupted by the user.
36890 @end table
36891
36892 @end table
36893
36894 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
36895 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
36896 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
36897 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
36898 needed.
36899
36900
36901 @node system
36902 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
36903 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
36904
36905 @table @asis
36906 @item Synopsis:
36907 @smallexample
36908 int system(const char *command);
36909 @end smallexample
36910
36911 @item Request:
36912 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
36913
36914 @item Return value:
36915 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
36916 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
36917 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
36918 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
36919 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
36920 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
36921 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
36922
36923 @item Errors:
36924
36925 @table @code
36926 @item EINTR
36927 The call was interrupted by the user.
36928 @end table
36929
36930 @end table
36931
36932 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
36933 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
36934 the host is simplified before it's returned
36935 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
36936 is discarded, and the return value consists
36937 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
36938
36939 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
36940 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
36941 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
36942
36943 @table @code
36944 @item set remote system-call-allowed
36945 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
36946 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
36947 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
36948
36949 @item show remote system-call-allowed
36950 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
36951 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
36952 protocol.
36953 @end table
36954
36955 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
36956 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
36957 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
36958
36959 @menu
36960 * Integral Datatypes::
36961 * Pointer Values::
36962 * Memory Transfer::
36963 * struct stat::
36964 * struct timeval::
36965 @end menu
36966
36967 @node Integral Datatypes
36968 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
36969 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
36970
36971 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
36972 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
36973 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
36974
36975 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
36976 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
36977
36978 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
36979
36980 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
36981 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
36982
36983 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
36984
36985 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
36986 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
36987 byte order.
36988
36989 @node Pointer Values
36990 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
36991 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
36992
36993 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
36994 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
36995 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
36996 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
36997
36998 @smallexample
36999 @code{1aaf/12}
37000 @end smallexample
37001
37002 @noindent
37003 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
37004 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
37005 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
37006 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
37007
37008 @smallexample
37009 @code{123456/d}
37010 @end smallexample
37011
37012 @node Memory Transfer
37013 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
37014 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
37015
37016 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
37017 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
37018 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
37019 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
37020 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
37021 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
37022 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
37023
37024
37025 @node struct stat
37026 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
37027 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
37028
37029 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
37030 is defined as follows:
37031
37032 @smallexample
37033 struct stat @{
37034 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
37035 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
37036 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
37037 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
37038 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
37039 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
37040 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
37041 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
37042 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
37043 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
37044 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
37045 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
37046 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
37047 @};
37048 @end smallexample
37049
37050 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
37051 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
37052 structure is of size 64 bytes.
37053
37054 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
37055 range of values.
37056
37057 @table @code
37058
37059 @item st_dev
37060 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
37061
37062 @item st_ino
37063 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
37064
37065 @item st_mode
37066 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
37067 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
37068
37069 @item st_uid
37070 @itemx st_gid
37071 @itemx st_rdev
37072 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
37073
37074 @item st_atime
37075 @itemx st_mtime
37076 @itemx st_ctime
37077 These values have a host and file system dependent
37078 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
37079 support exact timing values.
37080 @end table
37081
37082 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
37083 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
37084 continuing.
37085
37086 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
37087 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
37088 get truncated on the target.
37089
37090 @node struct timeval
37091 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
37092 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
37093
37094 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
37095 is defined as follows:
37096
37097 @smallexample
37098 struct timeval @{
37099 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
37100 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
37101 @};
37102 @end smallexample
37103
37104 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
37105 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
37106 structure is of size 8 bytes.
37107
37108 @node Constants
37109 @subsection Constants
37110 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
37111
37112 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
37113 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
37114 values before and after the call as needed.
37115
37116 @menu
37117 * Open Flags::
37118 * mode_t Values::
37119 * Errno Values::
37120 * Lseek Flags::
37121 * Limits::
37122 @end menu
37123
37124 @node Open Flags
37125 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
37126 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
37127
37128 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
37129
37130 @smallexample
37131 O_RDONLY 0x0
37132 O_WRONLY 0x1
37133 O_RDWR 0x2
37134 O_APPEND 0x8
37135 O_CREAT 0x200
37136 O_TRUNC 0x400
37137 O_EXCL 0x800
37138 @end smallexample
37139
37140 @node mode_t Values
37141 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
37142 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
37143
37144 All values are given in octal representation.
37145
37146 @smallexample
37147 S_IFREG 0100000
37148 S_IFDIR 040000
37149 S_IRUSR 0400
37150 S_IWUSR 0200
37151 S_IXUSR 0100
37152 S_IRGRP 040
37153 S_IWGRP 020
37154 S_IXGRP 010
37155 S_IROTH 04
37156 S_IWOTH 02
37157 S_IXOTH 01
37158 @end smallexample
37159
37160 @node Errno Values
37161 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
37162 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
37163
37164 All values are given in decimal representation.
37165
37166 @smallexample
37167 EPERM 1
37168 ENOENT 2
37169 EINTR 4
37170 EBADF 9
37171 EACCES 13
37172 EFAULT 14
37173 EBUSY 16
37174 EEXIST 17
37175 ENODEV 19
37176 ENOTDIR 20
37177 EISDIR 21
37178 EINVAL 22
37179 ENFILE 23
37180 EMFILE 24
37181 EFBIG 27
37182 ENOSPC 28
37183 ESPIPE 29
37184 EROFS 30
37185 ENAMETOOLONG 91
37186 EUNKNOWN 9999
37187 @end smallexample
37188
37189 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
37190 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
37191
37192 @node Lseek Flags
37193 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
37194 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
37195
37196 @smallexample
37197 SEEK_SET 0
37198 SEEK_CUR 1
37199 SEEK_END 2
37200 @end smallexample
37201
37202 @node Limits
37203 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
37204 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
37205
37206 All values are given in decimal representation.
37207
37208 @smallexample
37209 INT_MIN -2147483648
37210 INT_MAX 2147483647
37211 UINT_MAX 4294967295
37212 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
37213 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
37214 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
37215 @end smallexample
37216
37217 @node File-I/O Examples
37218 @subsection File-I/O Examples
37219 @cindex file-i/o examples
37220
37221 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
37222 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
37223
37224 @smallexample
37225 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
37226 @emph{request memory read from target}
37227 -> @code{m1234,6}
37228 <- XXXXXX
37229 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
37230 -> @code{F6}
37231 @end smallexample
37232
37233 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
37234 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
37235
37236 @smallexample
37237 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37238 @emph{request memory write to target}
37239 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
37240 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
37241 -> @code{F6}
37242 @end smallexample
37243
37244 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
37245 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
37246
37247 @smallexample
37248 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37249 -> @code{F-1,9}
37250 @end smallexample
37251
37252 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
37253 host is called:
37254
37255 @smallexample
37256 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37257 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
37258 <- @code{T02}
37259 @end smallexample
37260
37261 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
37262 host is called:
37263
37264 @smallexample
37265 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37266 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
37267 <- @code{T02}
37268 @end smallexample
37269
37270 @node Library List Format
37271 @section Library List Format
37272 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
37273
37274 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
37275 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
37276 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
37277 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
37278 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
37279 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
37280 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
37281 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
37282 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
37283 are loaded.
37284
37285 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
37286 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
37287 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
37288 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
37289
37290 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
37291 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
37292 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
37293 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
37294 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
37295 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
37296
37297 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37298 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
37299
37300 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
37301 offset, looks like this:
37302
37303 @smallexample
37304 <library-list>
37305 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
37306 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
37307 </library>
37308 </library-list>
37309 @end smallexample
37310
37311 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
37312 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
37313
37314 @smallexample
37315 <library-list>
37316 <library name="sharedlib.o">
37317 <section address="0x10000000"/>
37318 <section address="0x20000000"/>
37319 <section address="0x30000000"/>
37320 </library>
37321 </library-list>
37322 @end smallexample
37323
37324 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
37325
37326 @smallexample
37327 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
37328 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
37329 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
37330 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
37331 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37332 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
37333 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
37334 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
37335 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
37336 @end smallexample
37337
37338 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
37339 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
37340 section for each library.
37341
37342 @node Memory Map Format
37343 @section Memory Map Format
37344 @cindex memory map format
37345
37346 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
37347 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
37348 memory map.
37349
37350 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
37351 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
37352 lists memory regions.
37353
37354 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37355 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
37356
37357 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
37358
37359 @smallexample
37360 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37361 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
37362 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
37363 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
37364 <memory-map>
37365 region...
37366 </memory-map>
37367 @end smallexample
37368
37369 Each region can be either:
37370
37371 @itemize
37372
37373 @item
37374 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
37375 bytes from there:
37376
37377 @smallexample
37378 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37379 @end smallexample
37380
37381
37382 @item
37383 A region of read-only memory:
37384
37385 @smallexample
37386 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37387 @end smallexample
37388
37389
37390 @item
37391 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
37392 bytes in length:
37393
37394 @smallexample
37395 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
37396 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
37397 </memory>
37398 @end smallexample
37399
37400 @end itemize
37401
37402 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
37403 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
37404 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
37405
37406 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
37407
37408 @smallexample
37409 <!-- ................................................... -->
37410 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
37411 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
37412 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
37413 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
37414 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
37415 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
37416 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
37417 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
37418 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
37419 and its type, or device. -->
37420 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
37421 start CDATA #REQUIRED
37422 length CDATA #REQUIRED
37423 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
37424 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
37425 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
37426 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37427 @end smallexample
37428
37429 @node Thread List Format
37430 @section Thread List Format
37431 @cindex thread list format
37432
37433 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
37434 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
37435 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
37436 the following structure:
37437
37438 @smallexample
37439 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37440 <threads>
37441 <thread id="id" core="0">
37442 ... description ...
37443 </thread>
37444 </threads>
37445 @end smallexample
37446
37447 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
37448 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
37449 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
37450 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
37451 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
37452
37453 @node Traceframe Info Format
37454 @section Traceframe Info Format
37455 @cindex traceframe info format
37456
37457 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
37458 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
37459 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
37460 collected in a traceframe.
37461
37462 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
37463 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
37464
37465 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37466 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
37467
37468 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
37469
37470 @smallexample
37471 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37472 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
37473 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
37474 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
37475 <traceframe-info>
37476 block...
37477 </traceframe-info>
37478 @end smallexample
37479
37480 Each traceframe block can be either:
37481
37482 @itemize
37483
37484 @item
37485 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
37486 @var{length} bytes from there:
37487
37488 @smallexample
37489 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37490 @end smallexample
37491
37492 @end itemize
37493
37494 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
37495
37496 @smallexample
37497 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
37498 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
37499
37500 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
37501 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
37502 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
37503 @end smallexample
37504
37505 @include agentexpr.texi
37506
37507 @node Target Descriptions
37508 @appendix Target Descriptions
37509 @cindex target descriptions
37510
37511 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
37512 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
37513 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
37514 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
37515 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
37516 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
37517 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
37518
37519 @itemize @bullet
37520 @item
37521 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
37522 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
37523 @item
37524 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
37525 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
37526 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
37527 @item
37528 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
37529 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
37530 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
37531 @end itemize
37532
37533 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
37534 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
37535 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
37536 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
37537 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
37538
37539 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37540 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
37541
37542 @menu
37543 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
37544 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
37545 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
37546 descriptions.
37547 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
37548 @end menu
37549
37550 @node Retrieving Descriptions
37551 @section Retrieving Descriptions
37552
37553 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
37554 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
37555 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
37556 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
37557 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
37558 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
37559 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
37560 Format}.
37561
37562 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
37563 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
37564 specify a file are:
37565
37566 @table @code
37567 @cindex set tdesc filename
37568 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
37569 Read the target description from @var{path}.
37570
37571 @cindex unset tdesc filename
37572 @item unset tdesc filename
37573 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
37574 will use the description supplied by the current target.
37575
37576 @cindex show tdesc filename
37577 @item show tdesc filename
37578 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
37579 @end table
37580
37581
37582 @node Target Description Format
37583 @section Target Description Format
37584 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
37585
37586 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
37587 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
37588 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
37589 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
37590 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
37591 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
37592 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
37593
37594 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
37595 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
37596 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
37597 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
37598 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
37599
37600 Here is a simple target description:
37601
37602 @smallexample
37603 <target version="1.0">
37604 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
37605 </target>
37606 @end smallexample
37607
37608 @noindent
37609 This minimal description only says that the target uses
37610 the x86-64 architecture.
37611
37612 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
37613 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
37614 are explained further below.
37615
37616 @smallexample
37617 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37618 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
37619 <target version="1.0">
37620 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
37621 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
37622 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
37623 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
37624 </target>
37625 @end smallexample
37626
37627 @noindent
37628 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
37629 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
37630 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
37631 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
37632 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
37633 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
37634 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
37635 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
37636 the version mismatch.
37637
37638 @subsection Inclusion
37639 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
37640 @cindex XInclude
37641 @ifnotinfo
37642 @cindex <xi:include>
37643 @end ifnotinfo
37644
37645 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
37646 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
37647 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
37648 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
37649 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
37650
37651 @smallexample
37652 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
37653 @end smallexample
37654
37655 @noindent
37656 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
37657 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
37658 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
37659 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
37660 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
37661 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
37662 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
37663 original description.
37664
37665 @subsection Architecture
37666 @cindex <architecture>
37667
37668 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
37669
37670 @smallexample
37671 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
37672 @end smallexample
37673
37674 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
37675 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
37676
37677 @subsection OS ABI
37678 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
37679
37680 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
37681 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
37682
37683 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
37684
37685 @smallexample
37686 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
37687 @end smallexample
37688
37689 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
37690 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
37691
37692 @subsection Compatible Architecture
37693 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
37694
37695 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
37696 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
37697
37698 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
37699
37700 @smallexample
37701 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
37702 @end smallexample
37703
37704 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
37705 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
37706
37707 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
37708 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
37709 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
37710 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
37711 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
37712 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
37713 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
37714
37715 @smallexample
37716 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
37717 <compatible>spu</compatible>
37718 @end smallexample
37719
37720 @subsection Features
37721 @cindex <feature>
37722
37723 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
37724 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
37725 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
37726 has this form:
37727
37728 @smallexample
37729 <feature name="@var{name}">
37730 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
37731 @var{reg}@dots{}
37732 </feature>
37733 @end smallexample
37734
37735 @noindent
37736 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
37737 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
37738 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
37739 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
37740
37741 @subsection Types
37742
37743 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
37744 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
37745 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
37746 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
37747 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
37748
37749 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
37750 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
37751 Types must be defined before they are used.
37752
37753 @cindex <vector>
37754 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
37755 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
37756 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
37757 @var{count}:
37758
37759 @smallexample
37760 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
37761 @end smallexample
37762
37763 @cindex <union>
37764 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
37765 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
37766 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
37767 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
37768
37769 @smallexample
37770 <union id="@var{id}">
37771 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
37772 @dots{}
37773 </union>
37774 @end smallexample
37775
37776 @cindex <struct>
37777 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
37778 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
37779 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
37780 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
37781 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
37782 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
37783 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
37784 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
37785
37786 @smallexample
37787 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
37788 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
37789 @dots{}
37790 </struct>
37791 @end smallexample
37792
37793 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
37794 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
37795
37796 @smallexample
37797 <struct id="@var{id}">
37798 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
37799 @dots{}
37800 </struct>
37801 @end smallexample
37802
37803 @cindex <flags>
37804 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
37805 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
37806 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
37807 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
37808 are supported.
37809
37810 @smallexample
37811 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
37812 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
37813 @dots{}
37814 </flags>
37815 @end smallexample
37816
37817 @subsection Registers
37818 @cindex <reg>
37819
37820 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
37821
37822 @smallexample
37823 <reg name="@var{name}"
37824 bitsize="@var{size}"
37825 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
37826 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
37827 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
37828 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
37829 @end smallexample
37830
37831 @noindent
37832 The components are as follows:
37833
37834 @table @var
37835
37836 @item name
37837 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
37838
37839 @item bitsize
37840 The register's size, in bits.
37841
37842 @item regnum
37843 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
37844 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
37845 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
37846 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
37847 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
37848 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
37849 in order of increasing register number.
37850
37851 @item save-restore
37852 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
37853 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
37854 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
37855 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
37856 ABI.
37857
37858 @item type
37859 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
37860 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
37861 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
37862 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
37863 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
37864 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
37865
37866 @item group
37867 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
37868 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
37869 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
37870 in @code{info registers}.
37871
37872 @end table
37873
37874 @node Predefined Target Types
37875 @section Predefined Target Types
37876 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
37877
37878 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
37879 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
37880 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
37881 types. The currently supported types are:
37882
37883 @table @code
37884
37885 @item int8
37886 @itemx int16
37887 @itemx int32
37888 @itemx int64
37889 @itemx int128
37890 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
37891
37892 @item uint8
37893 @itemx uint16
37894 @itemx uint32
37895 @itemx uint64
37896 @itemx uint128
37897 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
37898
37899 @item code_ptr
37900 @itemx data_ptr
37901 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
37902 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
37903 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
37904 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
37905 may be marked as data pointers.
37906
37907 @item ieee_single
37908 Single precision IEEE floating point.
37909
37910 @item ieee_double
37911 Double precision IEEE floating point.
37912
37913 @item arm_fpa_ext
37914 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
37915
37916 @item i387_ext
37917 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
37918
37919 @item i386_eflags
37920 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
37921
37922 @item i386_mxcsr
37923 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
37924
37925 @end table
37926
37927 @node Standard Target Features
37928 @section Standard Target Features
37929 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
37930
37931 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
37932 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
37933 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
37934 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
37935 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
37936 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
37937 can recognize them.
37938
37939 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
37940 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
37941 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
37942 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
37943 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
37944 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
37945 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
37946 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
37947
37948 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
37949 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
37950 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
37951
37952 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
37953 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
37954 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
37955 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
37956
37957 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
37958 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
37959 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
37960
37961 @menu
37962 * ARM Features::
37963 * i386 Features::
37964 * MIPS Features::
37965 * M68K Features::
37966 * PowerPC Features::
37967 * TIC6x Features::
37968 @end menu
37969
37970
37971 @node ARM Features
37972 @subsection ARM Features
37973 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
37974
37975 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
37976 ARM targets.
37977 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
37978 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
37979
37980 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
37981 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
37982 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
37983 and @samp{xpsr}.
37984
37985 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
37986 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
37987
37988 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
37989 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
37990 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
37991 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
37992
37993 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
37994 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
37995 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
37996 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
37997 halves of the double-precision registers.
37998
37999 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
38000 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
38001 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
38002 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
38003 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
38004 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
38005
38006 @node i386 Features
38007 @subsection i386 Features
38008 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
38009
38010 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
38011 targets. It should describe the following registers:
38012
38013 @itemize @minus
38014 @item
38015 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
38016 @item
38017 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
38018 @item
38019 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
38020 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
38021 @item
38022 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
38023 @item
38024 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
38025 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
38026 @end itemize
38027
38028 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
38029
38030 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
38031 describe registers:
38032
38033 @itemize @minus
38034 @item
38035 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
38036 @item
38037 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
38038 @item
38039 @samp{mxcsr}
38040 @end itemize
38041
38042 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
38043 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
38044 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
38045
38046 @itemize @minus
38047 @item
38048 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
38049 @item
38050 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
38051 @end itemize
38052
38053 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
38054 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
38055
38056 @node MIPS Features
38057 @subsection MIPS Features
38058 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
38059
38060 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
38061 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
38062 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
38063 on the target.
38064
38065 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
38066 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
38067 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38068
38069 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
38070 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
38071 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
38072 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38073
38074 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
38075 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
38076 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
38077
38078 @node M68K Features
38079 @subsection M68K Features
38080 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
38081
38082 @table @code
38083 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
38084 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
38085 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
38086 One of those features must be always present.
38087 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
38088 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
38089 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
38090 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
38091
38092 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
38093 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
38094 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
38095 @samp{fpiaddr}.
38096 @end table
38097
38098 @node PowerPC Features
38099 @subsection PowerPC Features
38100 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
38101
38102 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
38103 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
38104 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
38105 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38106
38107 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
38108 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
38109
38110 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
38111 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
38112 and @samp{vrsave}.
38113
38114 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
38115 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
38116 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
38117 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
38118 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
38119 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
38120
38121 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
38122 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
38123 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
38124 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
38125 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
38126 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
38127 user.
38128
38129 @node TIC6x Features
38130 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
38131 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
38132 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
38133 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
38134 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
38135 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
38136
38137 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
38138 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
38139 through @samp{B31}.
38140
38141 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
38142 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
38143
38144 @node Operating System Information
38145 @appendix Operating System Information
38146 @cindex operating system information
38147
38148 @menu
38149 * Process list::
38150 @end menu
38151
38152 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
38153 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
38154 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
38155 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
38156 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
38157 on a different aspect of target.
38158
38159 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
38160 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
38161 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
38162 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
38163
38164 @node Process list
38165 @appendixsection Process list
38166 @cindex operating system information, process list
38167
38168 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
38169 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
38170 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
38171 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
38172
38173 An example document is:
38174
38175 @smallexample
38176 <?xml version="1.0"?>
38177 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
38178 <osdata type="processes">
38179 <item>
38180 <column name="pid">1</column>
38181 <column name="user">root</column>
38182 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
38183 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
38184 </item>
38185 </osdata>
38186 @end smallexample
38187
38188 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
38189 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
38190 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
38191 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
38192 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
38193 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
38194 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
38195
38196 @node Trace File Format
38197 @appendix Trace File Format
38198 @cindex trace file format
38199
38200 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
38201 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
38202
38203 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
38204 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
38205 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
38206 in the future.
38207
38208 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
38209 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
38210 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
38211 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
38212 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
38213 of this section.
38214
38215 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
38216
38217 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
38218 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
38219 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
38220 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
38221 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
38222 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
38223 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
38224 endianness.
38225
38226 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
38227
38228 @table @code
38229 @item R @var{bytes}
38230 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
38231 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
38232 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
38233 hexadecimal encoding.
38234
38235 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
38236 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
38237 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
38238 @var{length} bytes.
38239
38240 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
38241 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
38242 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
38243
38244 @end table
38245
38246 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
38247 of blocks.
38248
38249 @node Index Section Format
38250 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
38251 @cindex .gdb_index section format
38252 @cindex index section format
38253
38254 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
38255 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
38256 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
38257 description.
38258
38259 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
38260 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
38261 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
38262 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
38263 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
38264 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
38265
38266 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
38267
38268 @enumerate
38269 @item
38270 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
38271 unless otherwise noted:
38272
38273 @enumerate
38274 @item
38275 The version number, currently 5. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
38276 Version 4 differs by its hashing function.
38277
38278 @item
38279 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
38280
38281 @item
38282 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
38283 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
38284 to the next offset.
38285
38286 @item
38287 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
38288
38289 @item
38290 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
38291
38292 @item
38293 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
38294 @end enumerate
38295
38296 @item
38297 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
38298 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
38299 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
38300 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
38301 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
38302 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
38303 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
38304 CU indices.
38305
38306 @item
38307 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
38308 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
38309 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
38310 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
38311
38312 @item
38313 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
38314 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
38315
38316 @enumerate
38317 @item
38318 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
38319
38320 @item
38321 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
38322 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
38323
38324 @item
38325 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
38326 @end enumerate
38327
38328 @item
38329 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
38330 the hash table is always a power of 2.
38331
38332 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
38333 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
38334 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
38335 constant pool.
38336
38337 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
38338 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
38339 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
38340
38341 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
38342 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
38343 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
38344 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
38345 index version:
38346
38347 @table @asis
38348 @item Version 4
38349 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
38350
38351 @item Version 5
38352 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
38353 @end table
38354
38355 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
38356
38357 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
38358 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
38359 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
38360 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
38361 collision.
38362
38363 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
38364 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
38365 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
38366 the code.
38367
38368 @item
38369 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
38370 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
38371 strings.
38372
38373 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
38374 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
38375 Each subsequent value is the index of a CU in the CU list. This
38376 element in the hash table is used to indicate which CUs define the
38377 symbol.
38378
38379 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
38380 @end enumerate
38381
38382 @include gpl.texi
38383
38384 @node GNU Free Documentation License
38385 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
38386 @include fdl.texi
38387
38388 @node Index
38389 @unnumbered Index
38390
38391 @printindex cp
38392
38393 @tex
38394 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
38395 % meantime:
38396 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
38397 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
38398 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
38399 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
38400 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
38401 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
38402 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
38403 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
38404 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
38405 \page\colophon
38406 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
38407 @end tex
38408
38409 @bye
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